(Clearwisdom.net) On January 29, 2008, the Bao'an District Court in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province held a secret trial and sentenced Falun Dafa practitioner Mr. Chen Jinshu from Hong Kong to six years in prison for sending out the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and Falun Dafa books. Mr. Chen's family has filed an appeal.
Mr. Chen's older sister in Shenzhen accepted an interview in tears. She said, "My brother is innocent. He is not guilty of any crime just because he practices Falun Gong." The court fabricated evidence to frame her brother and accused him of a case that was closed in 2005.
It was reported that Mr. Chen's family hired a lawyer, and he has brought up many points in his defense. Under pressure from international and domestic pressure, the Bao'an District Court delayed his sentencing twice and refused to allow his family to attend the trials. The court sentenced Mr. Chen on January 29, 2008 without notifying his family.
Lack of Evidence, "Crimes" Forced Upon Him
The prosecutor used "evidence" showing that a Mr. Li Cheng from Hong Kong, representing the Libao Company, shipped more than 2,000 copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and more than 100 copies Falun Dafa books disguised as plastic film. Four witnesses from the shipping company never saw Mr. Li Cheng, but they said Li Cheng was the same person as Mr. Chen Jinshu, based on the voice they heard over the phone. Mr. Chen's lawyer said that as there was no direct evidence, he should be found innocent.
Mr. Chen's sister stated, "This ridiculous 'case' was closed in 2005, and the shipper and receiver were both detained. It was considered an important case by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Now this old case is being used to heavily sentence my brother." She said angrily, "Mainland China's court system follows no laws. This sentencing is a disaster for my family."
Media Threatened, Nowhere to Appeal
She further stated, "The CCP is trying to suppress Falun Gong in Hong Kong through the mistreatment of my brother. On the materials the Shenzhen police provided the court, they listed in detail every time my brother joined in Falun Gong activities in Hong Kong, including parades promoting withdrawing from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. They said clearly that my brother had joined Falun Gong or parades promoting withdrawals from the CCP, and that's what caused them to arrest my brother."
"My brother is a Hong Kong resident and has the right to practice Falun Gong or join parades. If my brother, a good person, is being framed like this, how are they following 'One Country, Two Systems?' They are violating human rights," Ms. Chen said tearfully.
Mr. Chen's father, in his 80s, could not bring himself to eat or drink upon hearing about his son being wronged. He lost ten pounds, and his health condition is precarious. The entire family has written letters to the Procuratorate, court, and police department, but they have not received any answers. They have contacted the Southern Metropolitan Newspaper and other media outlets, but the media did not dare to report any Falun Gong-related facts due to the "political sensitivity."
CCP Fears the Nine Commentaries and the Three Withdrawals
Ms. Chen Ruijin, a representative of the Hong Kong Branch of the Global Mission to Rescue Persecuted Falun Gong Practitioners, has been following Mr. Chen Jinshu's case. She said, "The CCP State Security agents began to closely monitor Mr. Chen Jinshu's activities in 2003. They have threatened Mr. Chen's family, saying that Mr. Chen must be a Falun Gong organizer since he always joined Falun Gong activities."
There are currently three Falun Gong practitioners and one family from Hong Kong under custody in mainland China. Apart from Mr. Chen Jinshu, another practitioner, Ms. Lin Lixia, was sentenced to three years in prison on January 8, 2008. Some State Security agents openly declared they would arrest Falun Gong practitioners entering the Mainland from Hong Kong. The root cause is that they fear the popularity of the Nine Commentaries and withdrawing from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers [the "Three Withdrawals"].
Mr. Chen Jinshu, 49, went to visit his father in Shenzhen City on April 16, 2007. As he and his father shared a meal in the Fulin Hotel, State Security agents suddenly arrested him and afterwards ransacked his father's home and the factory he works at. On April 17, 2007, the Shenzhen City Police Department sent detention paperwork to his family, saying the reason he was detained was because he practiced Falun Gong. On July 25 and November 25, 2007, the Bao'an District Court held secret trials, and they refused to allow his family to be present.
