(Clearwisdom.net) On June 18, 2010, Falun Gong practitioners Ms. Zhao Guirong of Balinyouqi County and Ms. Wang Jianxia of Linxi County were sentenced to prison by the local court, Ms. Zhao to seven years and Ms. Wang to four years.

Both women were illegally arrested on the evening of April 6, 2010. Zhang Haitao, Domestic Security Division Head of Balinyouqi Police Department, ordered the arrest. Both practitioners were put on trial on June 17.

During the trial, Ms. Zhao's defense lawyer entered a plea of innocence on her behalf, stating that all the charges against Falun Gong practitioners are invalid according to the law. The court staff were speechless and the trial adjourned that day without arriving at a verdict. The next day, however, the court announced the verdict, disregarding the defense lawyer's argument and the practitioner's family. It was not until July 6 when Ms. Zhao Guirong's family went to the detention center that they received the verdict.

Ms. Wang Jianxia had hired a lawyer from Beijing. Before the trial, however, the officials in Balinyouqi County filed false accusations against the lawyer with the judiciary department in Beijing. The latter then exerted pressure and prevented the lawyer from defending Ms. Wang.

The trial began at 9 a.m. on June 17. When Ms. Zhao and Ms. Wang's relatives arrived in court that morning, the police deceived them and advised that the trial would be the following morning and told them to return home. In fact, at that time, the two women were already being detained in the court's detention room. There were many police and plainclothes police inside and outside the court with dozens of police cars scattered around. Domestic Security Division Head Zhang Haitao took photos everywhere.

The court set up many hardships and obstacles for the defense lawyer and the practitioners' relatives. Eventually, no more than 10 of Ms. Zhao and Ms. Wang's relatives were permitted to enter the courtroom and were all arranged to sit in the last row with the other rows being filled with police and plainclothes policemen. The police also threatened and shouted at the relatives and defense lawyer, searching everyone. Another search was conducted after the 20-minute court recess.

On the afternoon of June 17, the practitioners' relatives questioned the court staff after the session. Since the defense lawyer had presented a flawless defense and the court had no leg to stand on, when would the practitioners be released? The court staff said they did not have any authority and that someone from Chifeng City Intermediate Court would come for another session before the verdict would be announced. Nevertheless, the court issued a verdict the next day, sentencing Ms. Zhao Guirong to seven years in prison and Ms. Wang Jianxia to four years.

Perpetrators:
Zhang Haitao, Domestic Security Division head of Balinyouqi Police Station
Bao Jie, prosecutor at Balinyouqi Procuratorate
Siqin Bater, Baliyouqi County Court Presiding judge
Menggen Bagen, Baliyouqi County Court judge
Xu Guangrui, Baliyouqi County Court judge
Ma Ling, Baliyouqi County Court clerk