(Minghui.org) A local court in Jilin Province reversed its decision to allow a lawyer to represent a resident charged with using a cult organization to undermine law enforcement – a standard pretext used by the Chinese communist regime to frame Falun Gong practitioners.
Ms. Deng Lijuan was arrested on August 4, 2015 while distributing materials exposing the persecution of Falun Gong. Duhua City Court initially approved her Beijing lawyer’s request to represent her, but later requested that she use a court-appointed lawyer instead.
Judge Wang Xiuling, who is in charge of Ms. Deng’s case, told Ms. Deng’s father that the lawyer had voluntarily quit the case. The elderly man rebutted her claim, “Our lawyer was still talking to us yesterday, and he is ready to defend my daughter’s innocence.”
Ms. Deng also confirmed that she never agreed to any court-appointed lawyer.
When questioned by Ms. Deng’s father, Judge Wang admitted that she was simply following orders from the local 610 Office, an extra-legal agency tasked with eradicating Falun Gong and given power to override the judicial system.
Ms. Deng’s lawyer questioned the legal authority of the 610 Office and protested the unreasonable termination of him. Judge Wang responded, “Well, you just have to talk to the 610 Office!”
It is unclear how Ms. Deng’s case will proceed, now that she can’t use her Beijing lawyer but objects to the court-appointed lawyer.
Ms. Deng’s husband, Mr. Zheng Fuxiang, was also a Falun Gong practitioner. He was tortured to death on April 7, 2004, while she was forced to live away from home to avoid arrest. Their son was only 13 at the time. He had to drop out of school to support himself. He later died in a car accident.
Related Reports:Dafa Practitioner Mr. Zheng Fuxiang from Yushu City, Jilin Province Dies as a Result of Torture Suffered in Changchun City's Chaoyanggou Forced Labor CampTwo Practitioners Tortured by Police in Dunhua, Jilin ProvinceA Personal Account of the Persecution of Ms. Deng Lijuan
