(Minghui.org) Ms. Zhang Ruiling, a Falun Gong practitioner from Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, was sentenced to a three-and-a-half year prison term and fined 5,000 yuan in August 2016.

Forty-six-year-old Ms. Zhang is from Huanan County, Jiamusi City. She, her husband, and son traveled to Yimen County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province in early 2016 on business, and stayed at the Lihua Hotel in Yimen County.

Ms. Zhang and her 22-year-old son Mr. Gao Guyue were arrested by patrol police from the Yimen County Police Department at noon on March 6, 2016. The police confiscated currency imprinted with Falun Gong messages, and informational materials related to Falun Gong which were in her handbag.

Sun Yunjian, a Domestic Security Division Deputy Team Leader went to the hotel and confiscated books and more informational materials related to Falun Gong. Ms. Zhang's husband Mr. Gao Guanchen was taken to the Domestic Security Division, and was released after being questioned.

Ms. Zhang was detained at the Hongta District Detention Center on March 7, 2016. Her son, Mr. Gao Guyue, was sent to the Yimen County Detention Center on March 6, 2016.

Police from the Domestic Security Division then traveled to Jiamusi City, where they ransacked Ms. Zhang's home. Her Falun Gong books and materials about Falun Gong were seized.

An arrest warrant was issued for Ms. Zhang on April 12, 2016. Her son was released on bail pending trial.

Ms. Zhang's and her son's cases were sent to the Procuratorate on May 3, 2016. Their attorney learned in late August that their cases had been moved to the Yimen County Court on August 5, 2016.

Ms. Zhang was tried on August 25, 2016 by the Yimen County Court. She was sentenced to a three-and -a-half year prison term, and fined 5,000 yuan. She was told about the sentence on September 28, 2016 while she was in the detention center.

Her attorney appealed the verdict with the Yunnan Province Yuxi City Intermediate People's Court. Ms. Zhang remains detained at the Hongta District Detention Center.