(Minghui.org) Mr. Liu Hongtu (刘洪图) was tried by the Tieli City Court in Heilongjiang Province on December 2, 2014. He was illegally sentenced to a five-year prison term on December 12, 2014. His family is in the process of hiring an attorney, and will appeal his sentence in the local intermediate court.
Mr. Liu Hongtu
Mr. Liu was charged under China's Criminal Code with “Using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement,” a catch-all used to sentence Falun Gong practitioners. His “crime” was distributing Shen Yun DVDs, and having twenty DVDs in his possession. Shen Yun is a Chinese dance company headquartered in New York that performs worldwide.
Mr. Liu was arrested by officers from the Hongqi Police Department for distributing Shen Yun DVDs to residents of Wangyang Town on July 31, 2014. His house was ransacked, and police confiscated Falun Gong books, a motorcycle, a computer, a printer, and other personal belongings.
Mr. Liu was taken to the No. 2 Tieli City Detention Center. Police stated that he would be released if he signed the three statements, agreeing to renounce Falun Gong, which he refused to do. He was then transferred to the No. 1 Tieli City Detention Center.
Mr. Liu had also been sentenced to five years in prison in February 2006, for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. He was beaten and suffered other forms of torture.
