(Minghui.org) Ms. Jin Qionge from Tianman City, Hubei Province, was tried on August 9, 2016. Her defense attorney argued at the trial that his client has the right to practice Falun Gong.
Ms. Jin is still being held in the Tianmen No. 1 Detention Center a month later.
Ms. Jin was arrested by the agents from the 610 Office while she was purchasing a train ticket at Tianman City Railway Station on May 13, 2016. She was told that she was wanted by the police for distributing informational materials about the persecution of Falun Gong. She was taken to Jiangchang Police Station.
Her family and friends were looking for her for several days before they found out that she had been detained. The Procuratorate approved the arrest shortly after.
Information about Ms. Jin's trial was not publicly available. It was only displayed on an information bulletin board inside the courthouse, and the name of the judge and prosecutor were not listed.
The trial started at 9:13 a.m. and ended at 10:20 a.m. Ms. Jin's attorney’s main defense was the fact that practicing Falun Gong is not illegal. The prosecutor had great difficulty justifying the charges, and the trial ended without a verdict.
Ms. Jin's attorney met the officers who arrested Ms. Jin. They learned from the attorney that practicing Falun Gong is not a crime and that it is illegal to detain a Falun Gong practitioner. They were surprised to hear this and immediately returned Ms. Jin's money, keys, and other personal belongings.
One of the officers, Su Yougjun, regretted his actions and expressed his willingness to help Ms. Jin if he had the chance.
Only 15 people showed up for the trial, and no one from the 610 Office was present.
The attorney said that the lack of attendance by the police and 610 Office staff indicated that many public security officers do not want to participate in the persecution of Falun Gong any more.