(Minghui.org) A procuratorate official in Hebei Province declined to indict a local resident after the police failed to submit sufficient evidence to support their allegations that Mr. Yang Jianping “used a cult to undermine law enforcement,” a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime to arrest and imprison Falun Gong practitioners.
“This was a very rare case in that the procuratorate dismissed charges against a Falun Gong practitioner, especially after he was formally arrested. I'm glad that the prosecutors followed their conscience in this case, rather than blindly following the country-wide persecution policy,” Mr. Yang's lawyer said after his client was released.
Arrested for Exercising Constitutional Right
Mr. Yang, from Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, was arrested while talking to people about the persecution of Falun Gong on October 21, 2015. The police seized his car and confiscated more than 600 copies of Falun Gong materials. He was sent to Wanquan County Detention Center following the arrest.
Mr. Yang's family and other Falun Gong practitioners went to the police station to seek his release as soon as they learned of his arrest. They argued that practicing Falun Gong does not violate any law in China, and that freedom of belief is protected by the Constitution.
The police told Mr. Yang's family that his case had already been submitted to the procuratorate, who was in the process of determining whether to indict him.
Released After Five Months
Mr. Yang's family, supporters, and attorney continued to seek his release. In the next five months, the procuratorate twice returned the case to the police, requesting additional evidence.
The police failed to provide any evidence that shows Mr. Yang caused any damage to individuals or society at large.
Mr. Yang was released on March 30, 2016, five months later.
