(Minghui.org) The Chinese Supreme Court has ruled that judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers are exempt from security checks for court hearings. However, it has become a recurring practice for Chinese courts to require a security check for lawyers defending Falun Gong practitioners, both as an intimidation tactic and a way to keep them away from the courtroom.
On the morning of October 29, 2014 two defense lawyers were asked by court staff to go through a security check before the trial of three Falun Gong practitioners. They refused to comply with the unlawful demand and were blocked from entering the courtroom. The judge then held the trial without the defense lawyers.
The trial was originally scheduled for October 22. However, the lawyers complained that Dayao County Procuratorate and Court refused to allow them to review documents needed to defend their clients before the trial. Upon their request, the trial was rescheduled for one week later, when the lawyers were refused court entry.
More than 40 people from the three practitioners' families arrived at the court around 8:20 a.m., waiting to attend the 9 a.m. trial. After they went through security checks, court staff informed them that the courtroom was full. They would all need a permit to attend and only nine would be given out. In addition, they had to go through another round of security checks before entering.
When the nine family members were finally allowed into the courtroom, they found that the last three rows were already filled with people they didn't know, who shook hands and greeted each other.
The court officials cordoned off the front entrance of the courtroom, preventing other people from coming in.
After their arrests on April 27, the practitioners were detained for six months before the trial. The three practitioners, Mr. Zhu Zhongfu, Ms. He Gaoqiong, and Ms. Liu Yijun, were brought in by officials from Dayao County Domestic Security Division at 9 a.m.
Mr. Zhu was shackled and handcuffed. He looked emaciated and weary. His hair had turned gray.
The practitioners asked the judge not to start the trial without their attorneys. The family members also spoke up and asked the judge why strangers occupied more seats than family members. The judge ignored their requests and questions, so the practitioners' family members left the courtroom in protest.
After three hours of trial, the practitioners were taken to a police car and driven back to the detention center. All three were in handcuffs.
Ms. Liu Yijun later told her lawyer that staff from Dayao County Court and Procuratorate went to the detention center in the afternoon, asking her to sign the trial minutes. “I can't recognize such a show trial, so I didn't sign anything,” she said.
Related article:Three Yunnan Practitioners Arrested, Family Harassed by Police
Parties responsible for the persecution:
Dayao County Procuratorate: +86-878-6222106Zhu Yanli (朱艳丽), staff from Procuratorate 's document center: +86-13769257277, +86-878-6169952 (Office)Dayao Police Department: +86-878-6227404Lu Wenhui (陆文辉), police officer: +86-13708788373