(Minghui.org) Officials from the Zhenxing District Court in Dandong City, Liaoning Province held a trial for Mr. Chen Xinye and Mr. Han Chunlong. The session started at 9:30 a.m. on April 12, 2013, with seating available for up to a 100 people. However, only six family members were allowed into the court, including the two practitioners' parents and their wives. They were forced to sit in the last row, as personnel from Public Security occupied the first five rows.

When the court session started, Mr. Han Chunlong's lawyer told him to inform the court of the mistreatment he received while in custody. Mr. Han told the court that officers from the Zhanqian Police Station interrogated him and tortured him. He said that about half a dozen police punched, kicked and slapped him on the face.

Mr. Han's lawyer then told him to continue. Mr. Han started to say that he was sprayed in the face with a water and chili pepper mix. Then presiding judge Tao Zhanhua stopped him and ordered the court police to remove the two defense lawyers. Five or six police then dragged the two lawyers out of court.

When the family members outside the courthouse saw what was happening, they started shouting and complaining to the police about the unfair treatment the lawyers received. The practitioners' family members inside the court were also very angry when they saw the lawyers being dragged out of the courtroom.

The judge adjourned the session, and the time for the next hearing is yet to be announced.

Those responsible for the persecution:

Tao Zhanhua, presiding judge of the criminal court: +86-415-2277071 (Office)
Jiang Yaxian, juror: +86-415-2277041 (Office)
Dai Lianfen, juror: 86-415-2277041 (Office)
Sun Guozhi, prosecutor: +86-15102455660 (Cell), +86-415-6276483 (Office)
Zhu Xiaofeng, prosecutor: +86-13904950005 (Cell), +86-415-6276438 (Office)