(Minghui.org) Ms. Ma Dongmei defended herself when Shahekou District Court put her on trial on May 27, 2014.

Ms. Ma Dongmei

She said that Falun Gong practitioners live by the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and that the practice improves one's health and spiritual well-being.

Prosecutor Chang Liang asked her if she made Falun Gong truth-clarification materials, DVDs, brochures etc. She said, “Yes, I wanted others to return to good health, too.”

She cited Articles 35 and 36 from the Chinese Constitution that guarantee freedom of speech and religion. “I am innocent. I did nothing wrong. Falun Gong does not harm Chinese society.”

When judge Li Bianjiang asked the persecutor for additional evidence, he was told that there was none. The trial lasted only about ten minutes.

Arresting Officers Refuse to Show Identification

Four plainclothes officers went to Ms. Ma's home on August 31, 2013, when only her mother was present. They did not identify themselves, and one of them started searching the home.

They ordered her mother to go to the police station, but she refused. Ms. Ma then arrived, and they ordered her to go to the police station with them, but she also refused. They illegally arrested her and told her mother that she would be released the same day. They didn't leave until they had ransacked the home.

Ms. Ma did not return home. After several days of searching, her family still could not find her. Officers from the Xigang Police Department notified her family on September 4 that she had been taken to the Yaojia Detention Center on the night of her arrest.

The mother was notified on November 15 that Ms. Ma's arrest was approved. She was notified on January 6, 2014, that Ms. Ma's case was submitted to the Shahekou District Procuratorate.

Rescue Effort in Vain

After Ms. Ma's family received the arrest notice on September 4, they went to the Xigang Police Department to ask for her release. They were given the runaround and could not find out who was responsible for Ms. Ma's case.

Her family hired a lawyer, who discovered that the Xianglujiao Police Station was handling her case and that director Huo Dongbo and deputy director Jin Ming were in charge.

Staff at the police station said that both officers were out of the office but would be back soon. However, the two officers didn't show up that day.

Ms. Ma's sisters went to many agencies, but those in charge refused to meet with them. They finally discovered that her case was in the Shahekou District Court and that they could meet with the judge in charge, Li Jiang. But, he refused to tell them the court date.

Since the sisters were not told the trial date, they went to the court daily. They found out on the morning of May 26, 2014, that the case would be heard the following day and that only two family members were allowed to enter the courtroom.

Persecuted During the Past Ten Years

Since the onset of the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999, Ms. Ma has been detained several times.

She was reported to the authorities on March 8, 2006, when she was delivering Falun Gong truth-clarification materials to other practitioners. Fumin Police Station officers arrested her and ransacked her home. She was released ten days later.

Nansha Police Station officers arrested her and her mother on June 8, 2007. Their home was ransacked and the police confiscated 15,000 yuan. Her mother was released and Ms. Ma was taken to a detention center. Ms. Ma's family's request for the return of the cash was unsuccessful.

The Shahekou Court tried Ms. Ma on May 6, 2008. Her family was not notified. Judge Li Bianjiang was in charge. She was sentenced to three years in Dabei Prison and released in 2010.

Summary of Key Persecution Facts:
Name: Ma Dongmei (马冬梅)Gender: FemaleAge: 40sAddress: Dalian, LiaoningOccupation: NoneDate of Most Recent Arrest: August 31, 2013Most Recent Place of Detention: Yaojia Detention Center (姚家看守所)City: DalianProvince: LiaoningPersecution Suffered: Illegal sentencing, imprisonment and home ransackedKey Persecutors: Li Bianjiang(李边疆)，Chang Liang(常亮), Huo Dongbo (霍东波) and Jin Ming(金铭)Defense Attorney: Unknown