(Clearwisdom.net) Before the Olympics in China, on July 23, 2008, Dafa practitioner Mr. Zhao Fuqiang, a cab driver, was arrested at his home by a gang of 7-8 police officers from Tiexi Police Station, Xingshan District, Hegang City, Heilongjiang Province. Four months later, he was illegally sentenced by a court under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to a term of three years in prison.
Since Zhao Fuqiang's arrest, his elderly parent was taken to the hospital due to high pressure, and Zhao's teenage daughter has had to seek help from others with the hospital fees. She was not even allowed to see her father in the detention center at the end of the year. Her tuition for the next semester has now also become a problem. Seven to eight cab drivers have requested the release of Zhao Fuqiang.
After Zhao Fuqiang started practicing Falun Gong, he was cured of his skin disease. He has benefited both mentally and physically from adhering to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance. He became very kind and considerate and is well-liked by his neighbors. His moral character has been upright and he always pays his income taxes without any form of cheating or deception, and he does not overcharge his passengers. If any passenger left their belongings behind, he would do his utmost to return it to them. He requires himself to be a good person according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
During his detention, Zhao Fuqiang was tied up and brutally beaten, in an attempt to extract a confession from him.
On November 27, 2008, the CCP's Nanshan Court, Hegang City, put Zhao Fuqiang on trial. His lawyer, Tang Jitian of Beijing Anhui Law Offices, made a strong "not-guilty" defense for Zhao Fuqiang, which won a round of applause in the courtroom. Nevertheless, the CCP's court still sentenced him to a prison term of three years, disregarding the illegal action of the police.
