(Minghui.org) A Huludao City, Liaoning Province resident has been detained incommunicado since his arrest in late January 2022 for practicing Falun Gong, a mind-body discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.
Mr. Gong Yubo’s wife recently found out that he was given six months of house arrest and held in a secret hotel. Claiming that his case concerned a “state secret,” the authorities prohibited her from visiting him and refused to accept the materials she submitted to seek justice for him. The prosecutor in charge of his case claimed that his case is very significant and more severe than murder or arson.
On January 21, 2022, nine days before the 2022 Chinese New Year, Mr. Gong returned home from working out of town to spend the holiday with his family. Wang Shufeng, the village secretary, Tian Changwu, the deputy chief of Shaheying Village Police Station, and another person who claimed to be from the pandemic prevention center descended at his home.
None of the officers was wearing their uniforms. The license plate of their car was covered by a surgical mask. Without showing a search warrant, they arrested Mr. Gong and confiscated his Falun Gong books, computer and cell phone. His wife repeatedly asked the officers who they were, but none answered.
Mr. Gong’s wife said his arrest left the family in a dire situation. With him being the sole breadwinner, she struggles to make ends meet, especially given that their daughter is attending college, their toddler son is not even two and her father, who lives with them, is bedridden and relies on her for care.
For the next five months, she went to various local police departments, procuratorate and courts, to look for him, but to no avail.
It was not until June 16 that Mr. Gong’s wife find out through the Huludao City Appeals Office that he had been put on house arrest and that the Shenyang City Public Security Bureau and Xinmin City Police Department are in charge of his case.
Mr. Gong’s wife went to the Xinmin Police Department on June 20 to submit documents seeking his release. The officers refused to meet with her or accept the materials. They claimed that his case is related to state secrets and they couldn’t reveal anything to her.
She next went to the local police department’s appeals office, the Xinmin City Appeals Office, Xinmin Disciplinary Inspection Commission and Xinmin City Political and Legal Affairs Committee, to submit the materials, but was rejected by all agencies, on grounds that the case wasn’t under their jurisdiction.
Mr. Gong’s wife lastly went to the Xinmin City Procuratorate and was received by prosecutor Liu. Liu told her that Mr. Gong is held at a hotel, but he couldn’t let her see him or reveal the address to her. Liu also rejected her when she asked to review his case documents, but said his lawyer might be allowed for a visit. He said he had been visiting Mr. Gong every week and he was doing fine.
Liu added that as the government had designated Falun Gong as a cult, Mr. Gong’s case is very significant and is much more severe than a murder or arson. He revealed that a deputy minister from the Ministry of Public Security is directly involved with Mr. Gong’s case.
Mr. Gong’s wife argued that no law criminalizes Falun Gong in China or officially labels it as a cult. Liu refused to listen, but accepted some reference documents from her.
Liu said that the longest allowance for house arrest is six months. When it expires, the authorities would either release the suspect or put him or her on criminal detention for prosecution. Now six months have passed since Mr. Gong’s arrest, he remains detained incommunicado. His wife is very worried whether he would be sentenced.
Wu Zhen (吴震), head of Xinmin City Police Department: +86-24-87852554Liu (刘), prosecutor of Xinmin City Procuratorate: +86-24-8785 2000Tian Changwu (田长武), deputy chief of Shaheying Police Station: +86-13604290021Wang Shufeng (王树峰), secretary of Huangtukan Village: +86-18342900444
(More perpetrators’ contact information is available in the original Chinese article.)
Sole Breadwinner Arrested for His Faith, Detained Incommunicado for Two Months and Counting