(Minghui.org) The sentencing hearing for Ms. Han Guangzhi was set for April 3, 2018, but the local Yushu City Court didn't inform her daughter until 3 p.m. the previous day.
Ms. Han's out-of-town lawyer was thus unable to represent her in court. Judge Sun Li sentenced her to 7 years in prison and fined her 20,000 yuan.
Ms. Han was arrested on August 2, 2017, for talking to people about the Chinese communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Her out-of-town lawyer traveled to Yushu six times, but he was never allowed to review her case file.
The court did not issue advance notice regarding Ms. Han's first court appearance, either. Her daughter visited Judge Sun on December 19, 2017, and learned by chance that her mother would be tried at 7 a.m. the next morning.
When her daughter questioned why there was no advance notice, Judge Sun claimed that they didn't allow lawyers from other cities to represent Falun Gong practitioners. He suggested that she find a local lawyer for her mother instead.
Ms. Han, 71, remains at Yushu Detention Center at the time of writing.
Related Report:Ms. Han Guangzhi Tried in Jilin Province; Her Lawyer Not Allowed To Defend Her
