Shenzhen sect leader "to face trial" (SCMP: Jan. 24 00)

Guangdong has begun to put Falun Gong members on trial, a HongKong-based human rights group reported yesterday.

Li Jianhui, a leader of the banned sect, would stand trial today at a court in Shenzhen's Futian district, the Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China reported.

It said he was the first Falun Gong member to stand trial in Guangdong and he was expected to be tried for "using a sect to harm the implementation of the law".

He and his wife, Dai Ying, were arrested by police in September. Ms Dai was released in November without charge.

The center said a lawyer hired by Ms Dai had wanted to plead not guilty for Li but authorities ruled that this would not be acceptable and another lawyer was found.

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