(Minghui.org) A Shanwei City, Guangdong Province resident was recently sentenced to a 5.5-year prison term for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

When Mr. Huang Shengwei, 50, was arrested on April 9, 2020, his wife was six-months pregnant. His wife is currently struggling to care for their toddler, now around 17 months old, and her mother-in-law, who is in her 70s.

A few booklets with information about Falun Gong appeared in a neighborhood in Shanwei in early February 2020. The neighborhood secretary Zheng Zequn reported it to the police, who treated it as a big case. After months of investigation, the police arrested eight practitioners after suspecting them of distributing the booklets.

Mr. Huang, Mr. Zhuang Xiachang, Mr. Wu Yiguo, 62, his wife Ms. Zeng Shaolan, 54, and Mr. Chen Xianzhen, were arrested at around 10 p.m. on April 9, 2020, while studying the Falun Gong teachings at Mr. Zhuang’s home. Another married couple, Mr. Liang Shengqiang and Ms. Yu Shaoliang, were arrested around the same time. The eighth practitioner, Ms. Ye Xiaojie, was arrested on June 9, 2020.

The police took Mr. Huang’s key and ransacked his home when no one was present. His wife’s valuables, including more than a dozen pieces of gold jewelry, 7,500 yuan in cash, computers, and bank cards, went missing after the police raid. The police searched Mr. Huang’s home again two days later and left behind gloves and cigarette butts. Mr. Huang’s family reported the incident to the police, who denied taking the valuables and refused to investigate the apparent looting.

When Mr. Huang’s wife went to the police department on April 21, 2020 to seek his release, officer Zhong Weicheng said to her, “I’m just going to frame him.”

Zhong also recorded videos of Mr. Huang’s wife in order to intimidate him and force him to admit to the fabricated charges. Judge Huang Weiqun of the Shanwei City Court later sentenced Mr. Huang to 5.5 years in prison.

Three other practitioners targeted in the group arrest, including Mr. Zhuang, Mr. Chen, and Ms. Ye, were also indicted and are facing prison sentences.

This is the fifth time that Mr. Huang, an accountant, has been targeted for his faith. He was previously given four forced labor camp terms, including 1.5 years in June 2001, 3 years in November 2004, 1.5 years in August 2007, and 2 years in 2011.

 

Perpetrators’ contact information:

Wu Huajian (吴华坚), head of Xinlian Police Station: +86-13929399000
Zeng Baolong (曾宝龙), officer of Domestic Security Office: +86-13902688263
Lin Jianxin (林建新), president of Shanwei City Procuratorate: +86-13922693681
Chen Jiatao (陈嘉涛), president of Shanwei City Court: +86-13502388986

 

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