(Minghui.org) A Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province resident was sentenced to a three year and nine month prison term and a 50,000 yuan fine on January 20, 2020, for his faith in Falun Gong. Due to the coronavirus, Mr. Shi Guanxian remains in Jinhua City Detention Center at the time of writing and is denied family visits.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual and meditation disciple that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Shi was arrested on June 21, 2018 after being reported for talking to people about Falun Gong. The police ransacked his home and confiscated his Falun Gong books and several thousand yuan in cash.
After the police submitted his case to the Wucheng District Procuratorate, the prosecutor returned it, citing insufficient evidence. The police forced the local residential committee to sign on the list of confiscated items, adding a computer and a printer, which had never been found in Mr. Shi's home, as prosecution evidence to frame him. His wife and son were listed as prosecution witnesses against their will.
Mr. Shi’s family talked with the presiding judge, Ye Limin, several times and urged her not to participate in the persecution. The judge replied that she didn't have the authority to decide Mr. Shi’s verdict, which was to be determined.
The Wucheng District Court first scheduled a hearing for October 25, 2019. After the judge refused to allow his wife and son to attend the hearing, Mr. Shi protested and refused to attend the hearing.
The judge later changed his hearing to November 30 and allowed his son to attend. She sentenced Mr. Shi to three years and nine months on January 20, 2020.
Mr. Shi appealed the verdict to the Jinhua City Intermediate Court. Judge Shi Xiaoling rejected his appeal and upheld his sentence on June 5, 2020.
When Mr. Shi’s family called judge Shi to seek justice for him, she threatened to give Mr. Shi a heavier sentence if his family continued to promote Falun Gong.
Related report:
Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province: Two Residents Sentenced and One Arrested for Their Faith
