(Minghui.org) A Panjin City resident was sentenced to 2.5 years and fined 3,000 yuan for refusing to renounce Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime. The local higher court turned down her appeal four months later without holding a hearing as required by law.
Ms. Ding Yanqing was seized at work on October 27, 2016, and issued a formal arrest warrant three weeks later. The Shuangtaizi District Procuratorate returned her case to the police twice between December 2016 and February 2017, citing insufficient evidence.
The Liaohe Police Station and Shuangtaizi District Police Department refused to release her and eventually secured her indictment in mid-March 2017.
Ms. Ding appeared in court on June 6. Her lawyer entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, citing the fact that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong. She also testified how the police injured her during her arrest.
Judge Gai Shixian convicted her on August 22. Her family filed an appeal on her behalf on November 9. They also submitted a complaint against the court.
Panjin City Intermediate Court ruled on December 26 to uphold her guilty verdict.
Ms. Ding’s younger sister, Ms. Ding Yanxia, was arrested at the same time. The younger woman was targeted because she also practices Falun Gong. She remains out on bail.
List of Perpetrators:
Liaohe Police Station: chief Wang Tao, deputy chiefs Song Wenxiu and Liu Hui, officers Luan Hua and Gao Shan
Shuangtaizi District Police Department: chief Chu Liang; deputy chief Gao Lizhi; officers Lei Xiaoming, Chen Xuejun, Jia Xiaoguang, and An Haiwei
Shuangtaizi District Procuratorate: chief prosecutor Zhang Shuhe, prosecutor Qiu Feng
Shuangtaizi District Court: president Zhao Hongxia, judge Gao Shixian, clerk Jia Siyuan
Panjin City Intermediate Court: president Wang Hong; judge Song Xi; clerks Zhang Yandong, Yin Benfeng, and Wang Chong
