(Minghui.org) A 68-year-old Chongqing resident has filed a motion with the Chongqing High Court, asking the court to reconsider her five-year prison sentence for practicing Falun Gong, after her appeal was rejected by the local appeals court.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Ms. Hu Kaijun, a retired construction company employee, was arrested on July 17, 2020 for delivering Falun Gong informational materials to Ms. Liu Deying, who is in her 80s. Both Ms. Hu and Ms. Liu were taken to a brainwashing center following their arrests. They were released on bail 12 and 19 days later, respectively.
The police later submitted both women’s cases to the Kaizhou District Procuratorate. They were charged with “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” the standard pretext used to criminalize Falun Gong practitioners in China.
When they first appeared in Kaizhou District Court for a joint hearing on August 19, 2021, Ms. Liu, who had been seriously ill, was carried by a nurse and her son into the courtroom. She was unable to sit up or stand. None of the two practitioners’ family members were allowed to attend the hearing.
On December 28, three weeks after their second court appearance on December 2, the judge sentenced Ms. Hu to 5 years in prison with a 15,000 yuan fine, and Ms. Liu to 4.5 years with a 10,000 yuan fine. It’s not clear whether Ms. Liu’s condition has since improved, or whether she has been taken into custody following the sentencing.
Ms. Hu appealed with the Chongqing No. 2 Intermediate Court, which ruled to uphold her original verdict. She is now filing a motion to reconsider her case with the high court.
Ms. Hu’s son has died, and her husband, who is in his 70s, was diagnosed with late-stage throat cancer in 2014, is now struggling to care for himself.
Perpetrators’ information:
Xue Mei (薛梅), presiding judge of the Chongqing No. 2 Intermediate Court: +86-15223646066Zhai Yu (翟羽), judge of the Chongqing No. 2 Intermediate CourtYu Hua (余华), judge of the Chongqing No. 2 Intermediate CourtMou Qifeng (牟其凤), court clerk
Related report:
Two Elderly Women, Including One in Her 80s, Sentenced to Prison for Their Faith
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