(Minghui.org) For the second time, officers from the Domestic Security Division tricked a 77-year-old Falun Gong practitioner to get her to a detention center, so that she could be tried for spreading information about the persecution of Falun Gong.
Ms. Zhao Zhaoquan, a Falun Gong practitioner in Luzhou, Sichuan Province, received two unexpected visitors from the Domestic Security Division on September 20. The officers told her that they would take her to observe the trial of another practitioner, Ms. Luo Shuizhen, who was arrested on March 17, 2016, for distributing Falun Gong materials.
Ms. Zhao agreed and went with them.
While in the car, Ms. Zhao noticed that they were heading to the Naxi Detention Center and not the courthouse.
“You told me we were going to the courthouse,” she protested. “Why are you taking me to the detention center?”
“Don't blame us. You were indicted. We know you are a good person, but we have to follow orders,” they replied.
Ms. Zhao was taken to a makeshift courtroom in the detention center. It was the same place where she was secretly tried after being tricked by officials about six months ago.
She attempted to talk to the prosecutors and court staff, and to persuade them not to participate in the persecution. They ignored her and quickly started the proceedings.
After the prosecutor read the indictment, the judge asked Ms. Zhao, “Did you hear it clearly?”
“I couldn't hear him at all,” Ms. Zhao answered.
“Never mind,” said the judge as he pounded the gravel and adjourned the trial.
“You come with me,” said the bailiff who escorted Ms. Zhao out of the courtroom and told her to sign the official paperwork.
“I don't even know what he said in the indictment, how can I sign it? You should let me read it first,” Ms. Zhao said.
The bailiff handed Ms. Zhao the document. Glancing at it quickly, she saw that she was being indicted for distributing Falun Gong materials to police stations and that the prosecutor's name was Nie Zhihua. “Incorrigible” was the word used to describe her. Before she could finish, the bailiff took the paper away.
It is unclear whether Ms. Zhao is awaiting the verdict at home or in detention.
The first time Ms. Zhao was deceived, the neighborhood community staff visited her on March 30, 2016, and asked her to come to their office to teach them the Falun Gong exercises. After they arrived at the neighborhood community building, they locked Ms. Zhao in the office and left her there overnight.
The police came next morning and took her to the makeshift courtroom in the Naxi Detention Center. She was tried for handing out informational flyers to the neighborhood community staff.
Another practitioner, Ms. Cheng Sigui, in her 70s, had also been deceived and taken to the detention center. She and Ms. Zhao were tried at the same time. Their trial lasted just 20 minutes.
While the police used the trial of Ms. Luo Shuizhen to deceive Ms. Zhao to come to the courthouse on September 20, Ms. Luo was indeed tried that same day, also inside the makeshift courtroom in the Naxi Detention Center.
Ms. Luo's trial was initially scheduled to be held in the Luzhou City Intermediate Court on September 13. The court later notified Ms. Luo's lawyer that the trial was rescheduled for September 20, but the location remained unchanged.
When the lawyer arrived at the courthouse on September 20, he didn't see any sign of an imminent trial. The court clerk called him half an hour later and told him that the trial venue had been changed to the Naxi Detention Center.
The lawyer rushed to the detention center, but was not allowed to enter.
Related reports:Two Older Women Tried without Due Process
Ms. Zhao Zhaoquan from Luzhou City, Sichuan Province Tells of Her Own Persecution Experience