(Minghui.org) The Chinese communist regime uses the judicial system as a tool in its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, who are systematically arrested, put through show trials, and imprisoned for refusing to renounce their faith.
Jin Shu is a deputy judge in the criminal court of the intermediate court of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province. She is on a committee formed by nine government officials that specializes in Falun Gong cases.
As a presiding judge, Jin sentenced 16 Falun Gong practitioners to prison in 2004. Ms. Yang Shujun was given 12 years in prison simply because she practiced Falun Gong.
Defense Lawyer Removed
Ms. Yu Guimin, a resident of Qiqihar, was sentenced to three years in prison for handing out Internet access cards that included information about the persecution of Falun Gong.
During the trial in the lower court, Ms. Yu's attorney was removed from the proceedings for pleading not guilty on behalf of his client. He then appealed to Judge Jin, on the grounds that his removal was illegal. Judge Jin denied his request, claiming that he had already been removed from the defense.
After the lawyer appealed to the supreme court, Judge Jin barred him from seeing Ms. Yu, who was held in a detention center at the time.
Related report: Qiqihar Judges Disallow Attorney from Defending Practitioners
Appeal Ignored
Ms. Zhan Shufen, a 63-year-old practitioner from Longjiang County, Qiqihar City, was sentenced to four years in prison by the county court in December 2014. She was accused of downloading Falun Gong materials from the Internet.
However, Ms. Zhan's lawyer argued that she did not know how to use a computer. After she appealed to the intermediate court, Judge Jin told Ms. Zhan, “There won't be a hearing for your appeal. Hiring a lawyer won't make a difference.”
Procedural Violations, Witness Irregularities
Practitioner Li Aiying was sentenced to four years in prison on March 4, 2016 by the Longsha District Court.
The verdict was announced 30 minutes after the trial began. Ms. Li attempted to defend herself, but was interrupted by the judge each time she spoke.
Ms. Li then hired a lawyer, who asked for a second trial by the intermediate court, citing the district court's failure to observe trial proceedings in its verdict.
The lawyer further pointed to the lack of evidence and the name of the prosecution witness being left out of the verdict document.
Judge Jin denied his appeal and said, “Evidence? Do we really need it? As for the absence of the name, we can make one up and write it in any time we like.”
Related report: Woman Arrested Shortly After Being Released on Medical Parole
Perpetrators' contact information:Qiqihar City 9-member committeeJin Shu (金曙), deputy judge, criminal court, Qiqihar intermediate court:+86-13199639660 (Cell), +86-13304521973 (Cell)He Xixiang (贺锡祥), chief, Qiqihar City 610 Office: +86-13904529220 (Cell)Huang Leiming (黄雷鸣), director, law enforcement section, Qiqihar City Political and Legal Affairs Committee: +86-13836262288 (Cell)Sun Anqin (孙安勤), deputy chief prosecutor, Qiqihar procuratorate:+86-452-2458909 (Office), +86-452-2406181 (Home), +86-13836228815 (Cell)
