(Minghui.org) “Don't dare to sue! Your parents will get a heavier sentence if they continue to sue.” This was the message sent to the son of Mr. Tian Yifu and Ms. Zhang Guixia.

The Xian District Court in Liaoyuan, Jilin Province sentenced both Mr. Tian and Ms. Zhang to five-years in prison on February 17, 2015.

The court held a trial against six practitioners on December 11, 2014. Mr. Tian and Ms. Zhang pleaded innocent and were given heavy sentences.

The other four admitted “guilt” and were given lighter sentences - Ms. Tian Yifeng three-years in prison and five-years probation, Ms. Liu Qinghua three-years in prison and three-years probation, Ms. Zhang Yan two-years in prison and two-years probation, Ms. Chen Xiulan one-year in prison and one-year probation.

The four practitioners were released on probation, and refused to talk to anyone after their release. At the same time, the son of Mr. Tian and Ms. Zhang was told, “Don't dare to sue. Your parents will get a heavier sentence if they continue to sue.”

The couple's lawyer and family filed an appeal. The presiding judge Gong Zhenshan claimed that the couple had appealed and the files were sent to the intermediate court. That turned out to be a lie. Fortunately the practitioners found out in time and filed the appeal on time to the Xian District Court.

Mr. Tian and Ms. Zhang were arrested on July 31, 2014. Their lawyer and family filed a legal complaint against Jin Zhenyu, deputy director of the Taian Police Department, for the illegal arrest on August 19.

The complaint included that Jin was not in uniform, didn't identify himself, no third party witness was present, and he used excessive force during the arrest. Besides, he illegally ransacked the home, confiscated properties and refused to give a receipt.

Ms. Zhang's lawyer, Mr. Zhang Keke, pleaded not guilty on behalf of his clients and cited the belief of freedom, detailed in the Chinese Constitution. However, he was arrested by police. Police deputy director Jin said, “You dared to plead not guilty.”

Mr. Tian and Ms. Zhang are detained in the Lianyuan Detention Center.

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