(Minghui.org) A Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province resident was sentenced to three years with a 10,000-yuan fine on April 22, 2024 for her faith in Falun Gong, a mind-body practice that has been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party since July 1999. She has appealed the verdict.
Ms. Zhou Chunling’s trial stemmed from her arrest on November 9, 2023, while she was working at a fast food restaurant.
The police notified Ms. Zhou’s brother the next morning that she was put under criminal detention at the Harbin City Second Detention Center. They asked him to pick up her personal belongings and deposit money into her commissary account.
Officer Han Jiabin from the Hulan District Domestic Security Division received Ms. Zhou’s brother at the detention center. He claimed that a verbal notice of Ms. Zhou’s criminal detention was sufficient when asked why the police did not issue an official written notice as required by law. He also refused to reveal any other information.
Han called Ms. Zhou’s brother again on November 18, 2023 and said that her case had been forward to the Daowai District Procuratorate the day before. The Hulan District Domestic Security Division requested to the procuratorate on December 20 to indict her.
Prosecutor Shao Mengnan indicted Ms. Zhou and submitted her case to the Daowai District Court on December 25, 2023. Her lawyer went to the court to review her case file on February 7, 2024 and judge Mi Shimo said that she may face more than three years of imprisonment. The lawyer was notified on March 1 that his client’s court date was set for March 6.
The lawyer and seven of Ms. Zhou’s family members arrived at the Daowai District Court on the morning of March 6, only to be told that the hearing was canceled. Judge Mi said the reason was because the lawyer asked to examine the flash drive confiscated from Ms. Zhou during her arrest.
A hearing was finally held two days later. It was unclear whether Ms. Zhou’s lawyer was allowed to examine the said flash drive, but he defended her constitutional right to freedom of belief. Presiding judge Chen Zhongyan threatened to revoke his law license and give Ms. Zhou two years. Prosecutor Shao recommended three years.
Ms. Zhou’s daughter was notified by the court on April 22, 2024 that her mother was sentenced to three years.
Prior to Ms. Zhou’s latest sentencing, she was jailed for ten years between 2002 and 2012. For details of her past persecution, refer to the related report below.
Related Report:
Once Jailed for 10 Years, Fast Food Worker Stands Trial Again for Her Faith in Falun Gong
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