(Minghui.org) Ms. Wang Lianshuang, 66, from Sanhe City was sentenced to one year in prison for “using a cult to undermine law enforcement,” a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime in its attempt to frame and imprison practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Ms. Wang was arrested on August 22, 2016, and first appeared in court on June 16, 2017. The hearing had to be cut short, though, because Ms. Wang suddenly exhibited severe illness symptoms even before the prosecutor finished reading the indictment. The session resumed on June 22, and the presiding judge convicted her one week later.
Baseless Charges
As soon as the hearing began on June 22, presiding judge Ma Chenghe said to Ms. Wang’s two defense lawyers, “We are all legal professionals and understand the legal issues involved. I'd say there is no more need to talk about legal matters.”
The lawyers objected and proceeded to point out that the charges against their client were totally baseless. The indictment stated that Ms. Wang’s practice of Falun Gong sabotaged law enforcement. The lawyers argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that their client had every right to exercise her constitutional right to freedom of belief.
The indictment listed Falun Gong materials confiscated from Ms. Wang’s home as evidence against her. The lawyers argued that those items were their client’s lawful possessions and caused no harm to any person or society at large, much less undermine law enforcement.
Violation of Legal Procedures
The lawyers also detailed the many violations of legal procedures committed by the local police, the procuratorate, and the court.
The indictment stated, “Around 8:00 p.m. on August 22, 2016, Sanhe police legally searched defendant Wang Lianshuang’s home upon receiving a tip saying there were people illegally gathering at her home.”
The indictment, however, listed no name or contact information of the alleged tipster. There were no guests at Ms. Wang’s home when police descended to arrest her. The police should have retreated because there was no justification for Ms. Wang’s arrest.
The police did not produce a search warrant during the ransacking. They also failed to ask Ms. Wang to verify items that were confiscated as required by law. Neither she nor her family was given an inventory of the confiscated items.
Ms. Wang also sustained severe injuries during the arrest. She was dragged along the ground for more than 100 meters. Her feet went numb, and her shoulders and collarbone were injured. Her blood pressure shot up to dangerously high levels. She was put in a cage as soon as she was taken to the police station. The police didn’t offer her any food during the first day of her detention. They later gave her a small bottle of water after repeated requests.
Ms. Wang’s case was initially deemed an administrative case, but it was escalated to a criminal case the day after her arrest. The lawyers argued that police lacked sufficient evidence for pressing criminal charges.
The lawyers also testified against Judge Li Ying, who refused to give them access to the police’s interrogation videos as they prepared for their defense statements.
The indictment listed Xiao Fengzhi and Shen Qianfang as prosecutors, but two different prosecutors, Zhao Zefeng and Wang Cheng, showed up in court. The lawyers argued that the local procuratorate failed to issue a notice to change its prosecutors.
The lawyers concluded that the police, the procuratorate, and the court had all committed dereliction of duty in their handling of their client’s case. They warned Judge Ma that he’d be committing one more crime if he sentenced Ms. Wang to prison.
Judge Ma stopped them, claiming that the legal procedure violations mentioned had nothing to do with the case.
The lawyers demanded Ms. Wang’s acquittal, only to see her sentenced to prison one week later.
Related Reports:
Lawyer Files Motion to Dismiss Case Against Falun Gong Practitioner
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