Hubei Man Appeals One-year Prison Sentence for His Faith
(Minghui.org) A Gong’an County, Hubei Province, resident is appealing the one-year prison sentence he was given for refusing to give up his faith in Falun Gong.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Li Yuehu
Mr. Li Yuehu, 52, a vegetable vendor, was arrested on July 11, 2019, after the police found Falun Gong materials on him. He appeared in Gong’an County Court on November 22, 2019. Two lawyers entered a not guilty plea for him. He also testified in his own defense.
The prosecutor accused Mr. Li of possessing 600 pieces of Falun Gong literature and passing out 204 of them.
Mr. Li said he only brought 102 brochures with him and that it would not have been possible for him to hand out 204 items at that time, because he was riding a motorcycle at normal speed and there weren’t many people out because it was nighttime.
Mr. Li’s mother, in her 80s, went with her older son on December 2 to the court, hoping to convince the presiding judge, Du Jiafeng, to acquit Mr. Li. They waited for two hours, but judge Du only talked to them briefly on the phone and never showed up in person.
The judge sentenced Mr. Li to one year in prison on December 6, 2019. Mr. Li submitted his appeal to the court staff when they went to the detention center to deliver the verdict.
Mr. Li's mother vowed to do whatever it takes to fight for his release even though she suffers from vertigo and asthma. She wrote a letter to encourage him.
Mr. Li Yuehu’s mother
Mr. Li’s lawyer met with him in the detention center on January 6, 2020, and delivered his mother’s letter to him. The lawyer filed a formal appeal with the Jingzhou City Intermediate Court on January 7, requesting that judge Chen Jing reverse the sentence and acquit his client.
Related reports:
Hubei Man Refutes Baseless Charge Against His Faith
Hubei Man Who Voluntarily Repairs Village Road Arrested for His Faith in Falun Gong