(Minghui.org) Mr. Zhang Hongru, a software engineer from Beijing, was sentenced to four years in prison in July 2015 for his faith in Falun Gong, a traditional mind-body discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999. His mother and other family members have been trying to file a motion for the intermediate court to reconsider his case since the beginning of 2017, but have encountered many difficulties. After two years of effort, his lawyers and family were told on January 22, 2019, that the motion was finally filed.

Prior to his latest arrest and sentencing, Mr. Zhang had been sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2002 for his practice of Falun Gong.

Lawyers Not Allowed to Meet Mr. Zhang

Mr. Zhang's family hired two lawyers, surnamed Lin and Song. The two lawyers and Mr. Zhang's family members went to the Qianjin Prison in Beijing on March 20, 2017, where Mr. Zhang was imprisoned, to discuss the motion with him. However, the prison officials refused visitation rights. They asked the lawyers to get permission from the prison's superior department, the Beijing Prison Management Bureau, Qinghe Branch.

Mr. Zhang's sister asked the prison guard to deliver the power of attorney letter to Mr. Zhang to sign. The guard refused, using the excuse that the letter did not cover the necessary legal requirements.

Mr. Zhang Hongru, his mother, sister, and her son

The lawyers and Mr. Zhang's family went to the Qinghe Branch of the Beijing Prison Management Bureau. They talked to Yang Chang, head of Education Section, and inquired about filing the motion. According to the protocol, Yang should have provided a response within 24 hours, but he did not. Mr. Zhang's family could not reach him until three days later. They got the runaround and were told to get permission from the main Beijing Prison Management Bureau.

When Mr. Zhang's family called the Beijing Prison Management Bureau they were told that the prison had authority to approve the meeting. So the lawyers submitted the Administrative Reconsideration letter to the Beijing Prison Management Bureau to request a resolution. But the official in charge told the lawyers that their request was out of their administrative scope. When the lawyer requested an official letter to that effect, he refused to provide it.

The lawyers reported the problem to the local judicial bureau, the Dongcheng District Judicial Bureau. When Attorney Lin went there, he was told to drop the Administrative Reconsideration.

Filing Motion to Reconsider Case

On May 17, 2018, Attorney Lin submitted the Motion for Reconsideration to the Beijing First Intermediate Court. Judge Yang Jianguo handled the case. He questioned Mr. Lin as to why he was handling a Falun Gong case. Judge Yang refused to accept the motion, claiming that additional documents were needed.

Mr. Zhang's family put together all the required documents and returned to the court with Attorney Lin on June 21, 2018. But Yang still refused to accept the motion. He told their lawyer that the Supreme Court did not allow them to file such a motion.

After compelling arguments from Mr. Zhang's family and lawyer, Yang reluctantly accepted the motion documentation but refused to issue a receipt.

Filing Confirmed

The intermediate court mailed the Notice of Acceptance of the motion to Attorney Lin in January 2019. It also set the time for a meeting – the morning of January 22, 2019 – between the judge, Xia Hui, the lawyer, and Mr. Zhang's family.

When Attorney Song and Mr. Zhang's sister came to the court on January 22, they were initially not able to check in since their appointment was not in the computer, but they were allowed to check in later.

Judge Xia asked the lawyer to state the facts and reasons for the motion to reconsider the initial verdict. Lawyer Song stated, “Mr. Zhang is a good citizen and he obeys the laws; the sentencing infringed on his basic rights and violated the law.”

Then, the judge asked Mr. Zhang's sister if his family had anything to state. His sister read a letter from their mother. She was unable to hold back her tears while reading it. She told the judge that the accusations noted in Mr. Zhang's verdict in 2002 were not true and the severe sentence was groundless. The judge asked his sister if he would still practice Falun Gong after his prison term. His sister told the judge that Falun Gong is his faith and his choice.

The judge confirmed with them that the case was filed and the verdict would be decided by the collegial tribunal later.

Letter from Mr. Zhang's Mother

Dear Judges,

My son Zhang Hongru is a kind person who always helps people. He is also a talented person, proficient in science and engineering, but also talented in writing ancient Chinese poems and articles.

He is a filial son and takes good care of me. He was my main financial support. Now I am over 80 years old. With his being in prison, I face financial difficulties and also am suffering great mental pressure.

He is an excellent engineer and had been given large projects by his employer. He lives by the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance and strives to be a better person.

However, he was sentenced to a total of 15 years. His first verdict was based on falsehood. He spent the best years of his life in prison instead of serving the country. It is a loss for the country.

Practicing Falun Gong is legal under existing law. My son did not commit any crime. He never harmed anyone or the country. He is innocent.

I hope that the judges from the intermediate court will handle his case by using existing law and reverse the verdict. I believe that his name will be cleared one day and he will come home soon. Such a good person like him should be respected in society.

Thank you.

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