(Minghui.org) Ms. Wu Chunhuan is a Falun Gong practitioner in Qinglong County, Qinhuangdao City. She was tried by the Changli Court on May 21, 2018, after 5 months of illegal detention. Her lawyer pleaded not guilty and demanded that she be released.
Ms. Wu was arrested at her home around 9 a.m. on December 24, 2017 by eight policemen including Li Yinqing, head of the Qinglong County Domestic Security Division, Wang Youwen from the Sanbozi Police Station, as well as Liu Fusuo, Gao Chao, Zhu Xiaohong and Tian Yujun from the Louzhangzi Police Station. She was arrested to meet a quota during a “hard strike” crackdown of Falun Gong practitioners by the Hebei provincial authorities.
The police officers arrived in three police cars. They ransacked Ms Wu's apartment and confiscated personal belongings, including her son's PC. They ordered that her son (a non-practitioner) and husband accompany them to the county police station for questioning. Both were released the same day.
Ms. Wu was taken to the No. 1 Detention Center of Qinhuangdao City and was detained for more than five months.
Lawyers Not Allowed to Meet Ms. Wu and View Case Files
After Ms. Wu's case was filed with the Qinglong County Procuratorate, a lawyer from Beijing hired by her relatives, tried to meet with her, but officials at thedetention center refused the meeting, citing a variety of fabricated reasons.
A second lawyer from Tianjin City went to the Qinglong County Procuratorate to review Ms. Wu's file. He was informed that all the Falun Gong cases had been transferred to Changli County.
The lawyer's firm in Tianjin was pressured by agents in Changli County. The lawyer was asked to file his intention to represent Ms. Wu before the court date or else to plead guilty for his client. The lawyer withdrew four days (including a weekend) before the court date.
A third lawyer from Beijing was hired by Ms. Wu's relatives. The Beijing lawyer only had one day to prepare for the trial. The lawyer was not allowed to see Ms. Wu in the detention center.
The lawyer went to the Changli Court, but was given the runaround. A guard told him that the people he wanted to see were not there. After waiting for more than an hour at the gate, the lawyer asked another guard for help who happened to be passing by. Shortly after, a female officer came out to process the lawyer's request.
The judge came to meet him. He checked the lawyer's credentials with the judicial bureau in Beijing. The lawyer said to the judge, “You should not use the judicial bureau to put pressure on me. It is against existing regulations.”
In the end, the lawyer was able to read the case file and attend the trial on the following day.
Trial Adjourned Without Verdict
When the court opened, there were many plainclothes officers outside the courthouse taking pictures of everyone in the area. Those entering the courtroom had to show their ID, which was photographed, and have their photo taken.
Zhang Qiusheng was the presiding judge and Cao Liancai was the prosecutor.
Some of the so-called evidence the prosecutor provided included a fictitious claim that Ms. Wu owned a printer and a laminator. Some fabricated testimony alleged to be from her husband was also presented. The lawyer refuted the false evidence.
At the trial, the lawyer cited six similar cases tried in different regions that were acquitted or not prosecuted, which shocked the judge and the courtroom audience. Everyone quietly listened to the lawyer as he spoke, presenting a powerful defense for his client.
Ms. Wu had not given a confession, nor had she signed any document admitting guilt. When she testified, she once again affirmed her innocence and said that she had not broken any law or “interfered with law implementation” as charged. She said she was a good person and followed the principles of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance.
The judge didn't stop her when she spoke.
After two hours, the presiding judge told Ms. Wu's lawyer to give his final statements. The lawyer said the Ms. Wu should be acquitted. The court adjourned, without issuing a verdict.
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