(Minghui.org) A resident of Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province is experiencing serious heart disease and is emaciated after more than one year of detention for her faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Ji Wenbo, 65, was arrested on November 2, 2018, at the residential committee office after she was instructed to go there to receive heating subsidies.
The police arrested Ms. Ji in attempts to close an earlier case against her in 2014.
Ms. Ji was first arrested on October 30, 2014 while visiting another Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Cheng Jinzhi, who was later sentenced to seven and half years in prison.
She experienced heart failure and was emaciated after being force fed for holding a hunger strike to protest the persecution at Daqing City Detention Center. She was released on bail in January 2015 after the police extorted 2,000 yuan from her.
Before Ms. Ji had completely recovered, she was taken back into custody four years later in 2018.
Ms. Ji’s health condition continued to deteriorate following her latest arrest. She was very weak and her body often shook uncontrollably. Her back hurt so much that every step she took required great effort. The slightest movement could result in an abnormally rapid heartbeat. She lies in bed most of the time. She couldn’t take in much food and is now emaciated.
Despite her physical condition, Ms. Li was made to stand trial at Ranghulu District Court on April 1, 2019. Her lawyer entered a not-guilty plea for her. She also testified in her own defense. She said that no law has ever criminalized Falun Gong in China, and that Falun Gong has spread to over 100 countries and regions, and is only persecuted in its home country.
Although after the hearing the collegiate panel found not enough evidence in Ms. Ji’s case, the court refused to acquit her and kept her in custody.
Two judges visited Ms. Ji at the detention center four months later and questioned her about what she said to Ms. Cheng during her arrest in 2014. Ms. Ji replied that she didn’t talk about things related to Falun Gong.
The court scheduled another hearing on November 7, 2019, without informing her or her family. Only when the court marshals went to the detention center that morning to take Ms. Ji to the court, did she find out about the hearing.
Just before she walked out of the detention center, her body began to shake and her heart beat so fast that she almost collapsed.
The court had to cancel the hearing and she was returned to the cell.
She is now still being held at the Daqing City Detention Center and awaits further notice of her next court date.
