(Minghui.org) The Linyi City Intermediate Court in Shandong Province ruled on September 30, 2024 to uphold the guilty verdict against a local woman for practicing Falun Gong.
Ms. Feng Guichun, in her 30s and an employee of the Linyi City Central Blood Bank, was sentenced to four years and fined 20,000 yuan on May 30, 2024. It’s not clear if she was sent to prison after she lost her appeal in September 2024.
Indictment and Sentencing
Ms. Feng was arrested on August 24, 2023 and detained at the Linyi City Detention Center. The arresting officers from the Lanshan District Domestic Security Division submitted her case to the Lanshan District Procuratorate. The police and prosecutor Li Peipei refused to meet with her family. They also refused to accept their requests to drop the arrest warrant against her and exclude the “evidence” illegally gathered by the police.
Ms. Feng’s family filed complaints against the police and prosecutor Li for violating legal procedures and committing dereliction of duty. Li indicted Ms. Feng at an unknown date and forwarded her case to the Lanshan District Court.
Presiding judge Li Jianguang (no relation to prosecutor Li) held a first hearing of the case on January 18, 2024. He barred Ms. Feng’s lawyer from defending her in court on the grounds that he failed to produce a no-criminal-record proof. Ms. Feng insisted that her lawyer be present. Judge Li then aborted the hearing.
During the second hearing on March 27, 2024, judge Li still did not allow Ms. Feng’s lawyer to represent her in court. He also ordered the bailiffs to remove her mother and sister from the courtroom. The session was adjourned shortly afterwards.
A third hearing was held at the Linyi City Detention Center on April 12, 2024. This time judge Li allowed the defense lawyer to attend.
Prosecutor Li cited as prosecution evidence testimonials from eight witnesses, including security guard Miao Tao and human resources director Gao Ying of the Linyi City Central Blood Bank; resident Fan Zunqiang of Xiyuan Community; resident Ma Xianfei and security guard Li Heqing of Qingyuan Community; security Guard Fu Hao of Runyuan Community; security guard Wei Dapeng of Jinyi Community; and resident Yao Xinxiang of a community on Liuqing Street.
None of the witnesses was in court to accept cross examination. Judge Li rejected the defense lawyer’s request to call them to the stand.
The lawyer pointed out that the list of the confiscated items only contained one witness’ name, with no information about the officers who conducted the home raid. The police still have not returned Ms. Feng’s cell phone, computer, ID, or house key. Furthermore, all the other police-supplied documents were also missing required information such as the IDs and job titles of the relevant officers.
The interrogation records did bear Ms. Feng’s signature but she testified against the police and said they used deceit and threats to make her submit. She said that she was so shocked by the sudden arrest that she almost collapsed. The police promised to release her in three days if she signed the interrogation records and they threatened to send her to jail if she didn’t comply. She thus signed against her will.
Prosecutor Li accused Ms. Feng of trying to overturn the Chinese Communist Party. Her lawyer argued that she was merely telling people about the CCP’s illegal persecution of Falun Gong. He requested her acquittal.
Judge Li still sentenced Ms. Feng on May 30, 2024. Judges Qiu Jinan and Jiang Jinsong, as well as clerk Liu Qian, also signed off on the verdict.
Ms. Feng filed an appeal with the Linyi City Intermediate Court, which ruled against her on September 30, 2024. The verdict bore the signatures of presiding judge Qiu Wen, judges Chen Gang and Xue Caixi, clerk Sun Lu and assistant to judges, Jiang Jie.
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