(Minghui.org) Four residents in Yishui County were sentenced to prison in 2018 for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Ms. Hu Fanxia Given 2 Years

Ms. Hu's in-laws were home on April 18, 2017 when they heard a commotion at the nearby home of their son. The elderly couple stepped out to see Zhang Zhijin (local Party Secretary) and a group of police ransacking their son's home.

The police questioned the couple on their daughter-in-law's whereabouts. They replied that she was at her parents' home.

The police immediately called in more officers and ransacked Ms. Hu's in-laws' house. They also attempted to body search the two elderly people, who firmly refused to comply with the demand.

The police then drove to Ms. Hu's parents' home to arrest her. She was sent to Dasanguanmiaocun Detention Center the next day.

The local procuratorate twice returned the case, but Yishui County Court still tried Ms. Hu on December 27, 2017. She was sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2018.

Mr. Sun Xingli Given Three Years

Mr. Sun, a retired piano teacher, was arrested at home at 4 p.m. on May 23, 2017. He was released ten hours later due to his poor health.

Local police chief Zhang Heng went to Mr. Sun's home many times to harass him. He once forcibly held his hand to put his fingerprints on some documents. The local procuratorate called him to say that they'd received his case, and he ignored the request for him to visit them.

Officer Liu Chanxiang showed up on December 20. Mr. Sun was not in. Liu returned on December 25 and took Mr. Sun to the procuratorate, where he was again ordered to sign some documents.

Mr. Sun appeared in court on May 3, 2018, and returned home after the hearing. He was summoned to the court on May 22 and told them that he had been sentenced to 3 years in prison. The local detention center declined to take him due to his poor health. He was sent home and is now serving time outside of prison.

Married Couple Sentenced

Mr. Ma Shengcai and his wife, Ms. Cai Honghua, were arrested on July 21, 2017. Ms. Cai was released on bail 15 days later when she developed high blood pressure.

The couple appeared in court on April 25, 2018, and were sentenced to prison on May 15, Mr. Ma to 3 years and his wife to 1.5 years.