(Minghui.org) Ms. Jin Dejing, 58, was sentenced to two years in prison on February 16, 2017, in the Taihe District Court for her belief in Falun Gong, a spiritual practice being persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime. Ms. Jin has filed an appeal to protest the decision.

Arrested and Home Ransacked

Ms. Jin Dejing was arrested around 9:00 p.m. at home on November 15, 2016, after five police officers broke into her home. One of them wore a uniform and was from the Niuerhe Police Station. The three others were plainclothes officers from the Taihe Domestic Security Division.

Upon barging in, they restrained Ms. Jin Dejing and her husband and searched their home without presenting a search permit. They took personal belongings without issuing a list of the items, which is required by law.

Ms. Jin Dejing was taken to Jinzhou Detention Center. Her arrest was officially approved at the end of November 2016 by the Taihe District Procuratorate.

Sentencing and Appeals

Ms. Jin was sentenced to two years in prison by the Taihe District Court on February 16, 2017. She then filed an appeal to the Jinzhou Intermediate Court.

Her lawyer requested an open trial at the intermediate court. However, without any hearing, the intermediate court issued a decision on March 28, 2017, to uphold the original ruling.

Her family filed a criminal complaint on April 21, 2017, against the Jinzhou Intermediate Court and a lawsuit against Judge Xiong Jie for violating the law when adjudicating Ms. Jin's case.

The Jinzhou Intermediate Court rejected the family's complaint on May 25. The family is appealing to the High Court of Liaoning Province.

Ms. Jin was sent to Liaoning Province Women's Prison on April 25, 2017.

Background of Ms. Jin Dejing

Ms. Jin Dejing started to practice Falun Gong in 1995. Before she practiced, she had long suffered from cerebrovascular insufficiency, a genetic disease. She was always weak and confused. She had to stay in bed for a week three or four times a year. The disease also caused her to have a bad temper. After practicing Falun Gong, she recovered from the disease--the family became harmonious, and her life became meaningful.

Related Persecutors:

Li Lei (李磊), head of Taihe District Domestic Security Division: +86-416-5165688Cui Yong (崔勇), head of Niuerhe Police Station: +86-416-5136158Wang Xiaofang (王晓仿), prosecutor, Taihe District Procuratorate: +86-13941618138 (c)

Li Jie (李杰), presiding judge, Taihe District Court: +86-18941601917(c), +86-4162872852Li Lihui (李立辉), judge, Taihe District Court: +86-18940673111(c), +86-416-2872856

Nie Kai (倪凯), presiding judge, Jinzhou Intermediate Court: +86-18941600183(c), +86-416-2526139Xiong Jie (熊杰), judge, Jinzhou Intermediate Court: +86-18941600169(c), +86-416-2526150