The Justice Department of Qingdao City Tries to Prevent a Lawyer from Defending Practitioner Mr. Cui Luning

After using threats to prevent lawyers from defending Falun Gong practitioners Min Huirong and Sun Hong, the Justice Department of Qingdao City became even more malicious in undermining the law. It threatened the lawyer for practitioner Mr. Cui Luning and attempted to coerce him into cancelling his agreement to defend Mr. Cui at his second trial.

The Licang District Court of Qingdao City had sentenced Mr. Cui to five years at his first trial. His family members attempted to appeal on his behalf, but the court denied their petition. Mr. Cui's family then hired an lawyer. The Justice Department of Qingdao City has openly interfered with the lawyer's work.

From the very beginning, the justice department constantly pressured the lawyer and demanded that he cancel his agreement to defend Mr. Cui.

On the basis of professional ethics, provisions in the law, and personal morality, the lawyer refused to comply with this demand. An official from the justice department then called the lawyer's law office and tried to intimidate him into withdrawing from the case. This official also told the lawyer not to take any action on behalf of his client and to cancel the agreement altogether. In addition, the official told the lawyer that he would not need to return the retainer fee and that the justice department would assume all responsibility.

However, this unscrupulous official was constantly fearful that his actions would be made public. Even as he threatened the lawyer to try to make him withdraw from the agreement, he told the lawyer not to tell his client that he was acting at the behest of the justice department. The official repeatedly emphasised that he, himself, was under pressure from "higher authorities." Of course, these "higher authorities" were the officials of the 610 Office¹ of Qingdao City and higher level government organisations.

Note

1. "The 610 office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/4/11/124941.html