(Minghui.org) A 6-year-old boy was traumatized when the police snatched his father right in front of him. Five months later, he was dealt another blow – his father Mr. Ding Qingyan was sentenced to prison for resisting the persecution of Falun Gong.
Mr. Ding, a Falun Gong practitioner in Huludao City, was arrested months after he filed a criminal complaint against former Chinese dictator Jiang Zemin for initiating the persecution.
Another local practitioner, Mr. Pei Zhonghua, was also arrested on the same day, January 14.
The two practitioners were each given one-year prison terms and fined 5,000 yuan on June 13, and they have both filed appeals.
Prior to their joint trial on May 23, the police and court officials attempted to get the two practitioners to drop their lawyers, but they refused.
The two practitioners were never interrogated while in police custody, but their lawyers discovered fabricated interrogation records in the case documents.
On the trial day, only a total of five members from the two practitioners’ families were allowed inside the courtroom. The rest of the seats were taken by police and officials.
While the lawyers were making their defense arguments, the judge frequently interrupted them and refused to let the practitioners make their final statements.
Mr. Ding remains detained. Mr. Pei was released on bail five days after arrest, but it is unclear if he is awaiting appeal results at home or in detention.
