(Minghui.org) Four Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, residents arrested on the same day last year were recently sentenced to heavy prison terms for their faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since 1999.
Ms. Mao Kun, Ms. Zhang Zhenhua, Du Rong and Chen Shigui (the latter two's gender is not known) were arrested in a police sweep of more than 40 practitioners on July 10, 2019. While most practitioners were released later on, these four remained in custody. Ms. Mao's arm was injured and required a splint, and she had bruises on her face when she was taken away by the police.
The four practitioners appeared in the Jinniu District Court on December 28, 2020. Their four lawyers entered a not guilty plea for them. Many police cars were parked outside of the courthouse and monitored passersby. The judge blocked most practitioners’ family members from attending the hearing and packed the gallery with police officers, both plainclothes and in uniform.
The judge announced the verdicts at the end of the trial:
Ms. Mao Kun was sentenced to 11.5 years and fined 20,000 yuan.Du Rong was sentenced to 9 years and fined 10,000 yuan.Ms. Zhang Zhenhua was sentenced to 8 years and fined 8,000 yuan.Chen Shigui was sentenced to 7.5 years and fined 6,000 yuan.
All four are now appealing their verdicts.
Related report:
Chengdu City, Sichuan Province: 28 Falun Gong Practitioners Arrested in One Day
