(Minghui.org) The Chifeng City Harqin Banner Court sentenced two Falun Gong practitioners, a mother and her daughter, to prison terms on February 25, 2016, without informing their lawyer. The lawyer attempted to file complaints against the court with the city procuratorate, but the office refused to accept his complaint.
In late 2015, Ms. Liu Ruiqin and her daughter Ms. Zhao Yanmin filed criminal complaints against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin for launching the violent suppression of Falun Gong. The mother and daughter were arrested on November 4. Police ransacked their home and took them to the Harqin Detention Center.
About a month later, their lawyer came all the way from Beijing to meet with them.
Not Allowed to Visit Clients
Their lawyer encountered many difficulties in trying to see his clients at the detention center. In the end, he was not allowed to meet with them.
He filed a criminal complaint against four detention center officials, including the superintendent, two deputy superintendents, and the inspection director. He also filed a complaint with the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Inner Mongolia Police Department, the Chifeng City Procuratorate and Police Bureau, and many other authorities.
Court Sentences Practitioners without Informing Lawyer
Instead of addressing the lawyer’s concerns, the Harqin Banner Court proceeded to try and sentence the mother and daughter on February 25, 2016, in secret, without informing their lawyer.
When the lawyer asked court officials how the case was proceeding, he was told that a trial had already been held and sentences handed down.
Ms. Liu was sentenced to two years in prison and her daughter Ms. Zhao to four years. They were taken to Hohhot Women's Prison on April 10, 2016.
Complaint Against the Court
On May 25, 2016, the lawyer went to the Chifeng City Procuratorate to file a complaint against the Harqin Procuratorate and Harqin Banner Court for violating legal procedures. No one accepted his complaint.
The lawyer argued that the court deprived his clients of their legal rights. “It's unfair. It also infringed on my rights as a lawyer. All of these actions were illegal,” he stated.
When the officials at the procuratorate heard that the attorney was involved in a Falun Gong case, they were very upset and contacted the local “appeals office.” Several officials later appeared, but none of them would give their names or positions.
Special Handling of Falun Gong Cases
The procuratorate officials did not give the lawyer any explanation. Instead, they threatened him, “Don't you know you're involved in a Falun Gong case?” implying that there was no need to follow legal procedures in handling such cases.
They claimed, “Our superiors have told us not to accept Falun Gong cases.”
The lawyer then asked for evidence of that directive, but they said there was no formal document.
“Since you don't accept Falun Gong cases,” the lawyer asked, “why did you prosecute Falun Gong practitioners?”
The officials had no answer.
Related Report: Additional Persecution News from China – April 28, 2016 (22 Reports) 11. [Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia] Ms. Liu Ruiqin and Ms. Zhao Yanmin Sentenced)
Partial list of parties responsible for persecuting Ms. Liu and Ms. Zhao:
Chifeng City Harqin Banner Court:Zhu Jingling, chief judge, +86-476-15924469190Wang Xuefan, Criminal Court judge: +86-15934967866Gai Xingdong, head of the Court:+86-13789695888Wu Guochen, presiding judge of the Criminal Court: +86-13947603771
Chifeng City Intermediate Court:Jin Zhu: +86-476-8334496, +86-13704766243Ma Xinduo: +86-476-8339236, +86-13904760433Li Hongyan: +86-476-8330017, +86-13704767127Tan Yucai: +86-476-8343577, +86-18604768668Yan Jianfeng: +86-476-8838799, +86-13604769196Song Guojun: +86-476-8345185, +86-13947690023Huang Sumin: +86-476-8825133, +86-13804767169Meng Xianye: +86-476-8336149, +86-13947619228
Chifeng City Harqin Banner Police Bureau:Zhang Xianzhong, deputy chief: +86-13804768919Li Fengrui, deputy chief: +86-13947603305
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