Court Obstructs Ms. Zheng Hongxia's Not-Guilty Plea in Her Husband's Defence

On the morning of October 20th, 2009, the Qingpu District Court in the Huaian City, Jiangsu Province held a trial for Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Chen Chao. His wife, Ms. Zheng Hongxia, submitted a plea of "not guilty" in his defence.

While Ms. Zheng was preparing to defend her husband, court personnel openly refused to provide her with the indictment paperwork and the charges for which he was being prosecuted. Before and during the trial, the prosecutor Feng Jiandong was disrespectful to her and even threatened her.

Mr. Chen Chao, 38, is a resident of Fuqiang Village, Qinghe District in Huaian City. He and his wife opened a copy shop in Huaian City to support themselves. He began practising Falun Gong in September 2008.

On April 13th, 2009, Zhang Shinong and Yang Aimin, from the Qingpu District's Public Security Bureau, along with officers from the Zhakou Police Station, arrested Mr. Chen in his copy shop. The police ransacked his business and confiscated Falun Gong books, materials used for exposing the persecution, a computer, printers, and copiers. The Qingpu District Court carried out the arrest and indictment without notifying his family.

In late October, Ms. Zheng learned of her husband's indictment, and the possibility that the court may frame him and sentence him. Ms. Zheng went to the district Procuratorate and the court to get more information to understand the situation. However, the personnel from both places refused to provide her with any information. When Ms. Zheng made her intent known, that she would defend her husband, although the court could not lawfully refuse, they wouldn't provide her with the necessary paperwork about the indictment. Feng Jiandong, the prosecutor, even threatened her and said, "The entire staff from the 610 Office¹ will be present on the day of the trial. You will not be permitted to talk about Falun Gong matters in the court." In the absence of the indictment and not knowing the specific charges, Ms. Zheng prepared to defend her husband with her own words.

At around 8:30 a..m. on October 20th, Ms. Zheng arrived outside the courthouse. She was stopped at gate by Feng Jiandong. The notes she had prepared for the defence of her husband were then snatched away from her by Feng Jiandong. A number of practitioners showed up to attend and observe the trial, but they were stopped at the gate by the judicial police under the pretext of not having admission passes for visitors.

When the trial began, Feng Jiandong made yet another threat and told Ms. Zheng that she was not permitted to talk about Falun Gong matters because the entire staff from the 610 Office was present in the courtroom to observe the trial. Despite the repeated threats and interference by Feng Jiandong, Ms. Zheng stood behind her principles. She defended her husband's legal right to practise Falun Gong under the right of "freedom of belief" for all citizens. She analysed the legal provisions and told the court that practising Falun Gong was legitimate under Chinese law. She explained that Falun Gong has been practised and welcomed by people around the world, and she disclosed the truth about the Chinese Communist Party officials' persecution of practitioners. The public security officers, staff from the 610 Office, as well as the law internship students, all had the chance to hear the facts about Falun Gong. The judge and the prosecutors had nothing else to say after she finished her defence speech.

Ms. Zheng later said, "Although we have been so unjustly treated, I still maintain my trust and belief in the judge and the court of law." What she said made Feng Jiandong's attitude change immediately. Mr. Chen Chao also told the court that practising Falun Gong is legitimate and that possession and creation of Falun Gong materials is also lawful and permissible under the Chinese Constitution.

Some plainclothes police secretly took pictures, but the vast majority of practitioners remained there until the trial ended.

Qingpu Courthouse:

Yang Xiaoping, head of the Judiciary Office: 86-517-83189901
Zhang Wanquan, assistant head of the Judiciary Office: 86-517-83189902
Feng Jiandong, prosecutor: 86-517-83589276

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/2009/10/23/210946.html