Police in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province Arrest and Extort Money from Practitioners

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials from the local 610 Office [an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong] police department, Procuratorate, court system and domestic security division in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province have persecuted Falun Gong practitioners and their families since July 20th, 1999.

Li Fu, former commander of the Mudanjiang City Domestic Security Division said to someone in private, "I am going to retire soon. Before I retire, I can't treat these brothers (police) badly. We have to find all possible ways to collect money. Falun Gong practitioners and their relatives are our source of money."

Since December 2009, officials from the Mudanjiang City Domestic Security Division frequently harassed, arrested and extorted money from practitioners and their families. Immediately after arresting practitioners, officials threatened their relatives with the prospect of sending the practitioners to prison or labour camp. The officials extorted money and valuables from the practitioners' relatives by taking advantage of their fear and anxiety.

1. Mr. Wei Jingkun Arrested; Police Extort 5,000 Yuan¹ from His Daughter

In early December 2009, officers from the Mudanjiang City Domestic Security Division arrested Mr. Wei Jingkun and confiscated two computers and other personal property. Policemen threatened him with forced labour, and then forced his relatives to pay 5,000 yuan. Mr. Wei Jingkun's wife was ill for many years and his daughter worked in another city, living under difficult circumstances. Mr. Wei's relatives had no alternative but to seek his daughter's help. On the following day, Mr. Wei Jingkun was released after police officials received money.

Mr. Wei Jingkun was forced to pay the police on previous occasions. On July 26th, 2006, officers from the Bei'an District Police Station and Domestic Security Division, Mudanjiang City arrested Mr. Wei while he was distributing materials about Falun Gong on Bei'an Street. Police demanded 5,000 yuan from his relatives, but when they didn't receive the money on the following day, they refused to release Mr. Wei. Police then took him to the detention centre, further threatened his family, and extorted approximately 10,000 yuan from his relatives before finally releasing him.

2. Several Thousand Yuan Extorted from Ms. Xu Wenyuan

Ms. Xu Wenyuan, a practitioner from Mudanjiang City, works in the Rivers Management Office of Mudanjiang City and lives in the Aixin Women's Hospital community on Ping'an Street. In early December 2009, officers from the Mudanjiang City Domestic Security Division arrested Ms. Xu and confiscated her notebook computer. They extorted several thousand yuan before releasing her. When I saw her after she was released, her eyes were black and swollen.

This was not the first time that Ms. Xu Wenyuan had been arrested and extorted. On October 10th, 2007, officials from Mudanjiang City's Domestic Security Division and Dong'an Domestic Security Division conspired with officers from the Qixing Police Station to break into Ms. Xu Wenyuan's home. They ransacked her home and confiscated her Falun Gong books and materials. They arrested her and detained her in the Qixing Police Station for one night. Later, they took her to the detention center and extorted money before releasing her.

3. Police Officers from the Domestic Security Division Fail in Attempt to Arrest Wang Li

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on December 8th, 2009, Ma Qun, a policeman from the Mudanjiang City Domestic Security Division and a plainclothes officer attempted to arrest Ms. Wang Li, who worked in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, with the excuse of verifying some information. Ms. Wang refused to cooperate with them, so the officers summoned two additional policemen. She was still able to get away.

4. Policeman Liu Jun Harasses and Threatens Practitioners

Recently, policeman Liu Jun from Mudanjiang City's Domestic Security Division repeatedly harassed and threatened practitioners and their relatives, greatly interfering with their lives.

5. Several Practitioners Harassed, Arrested and Extorted

Several days ago, officers from the Mudanjiang City's Domestic Security Division arrested Mr. Cao, a practitioner from Dong'an District, Mudanjiang City, and extorted money from his relatives. Officials released him on the same day after receiving the money. Police officers from the Domestic Security Division and officials from the residential community harassed Mr. Yang, a practitioner from Yangming District. Several other practitioners were also harassed, arrested and extorted.

CCP officials responsible for the above persecution:

Guan Jiumian, 610 Office director: 86-13836378002 (Mobile), 86-453-6412208 (Home), 86-453-6528931 (610 Office)

Zhao Jinhceng, Police Bureau Bureau chief: 86-13314636111 (Mobile),

Li Zhe, Domestic Security Division commander: 86-13604831098 (Mobile),

Note

1. "Yuan" is the Chinese currency; 500 yuan is equal to the average monthly income of an urban worker in China.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2010/1/13/216220.html