(Minghui.org) Police in Liaoning Province arrested two Falun Gong practitioners off the street on August 30, 2017. That same day, they took them directly to court where a judge sentenced the women to two-and-a-half and three years in prison, respectively.
Ongoing Arrest and Harassment
Ms. Li Xinhua, 75, and Ms. Zhang Guijun, 68, were first arrested on November 6, 2016 for talking to people about Falun Gong. The police released them on bail the day of their arrest.
The two practitioners were arrested again in mid-July 2017 when the police saw them talking to people again about Falun Gong.
Wang Chenggang, head of the Domestic Security Division, and Wang Qi, head of the 610 Office, took Ms. Li and Ms. Zhang to court. They attempted to force the judge to sentence them that same day even though their case had been returned by the procuratorate. However, the judge had a full schedule and would not take the case.
Wang then deceived the two practitioners into undergoing a health checkup. When they initially refused, Wang said to them, “You can be released on bail if we find any health issues.”
Both practitioners then completed the health examination and went home on bail. But the police never stopped their attempts to persecute them.
In August 2017, the police arrested Ms. Li and Ms. Zhang again and made another attempt to prosecute them in court. This time, the judge cooperated with the police and sentenced the practitioners.
Ms. Zhang Guijun failed the prison health test and was released on bail. She was fined 10,000 yuan; Ms. Li Xinhua was taken to Liaoning Women's Prison to serve her term.
According to Ms. Li's family, who recently visited her at the prison, she is held in a ward specifically for the elderly who do craftwork. Another Falun Gong practitioner in her eighties was also seen imprisoned there.
