Beijing, China – Pastor Cai Zhuohua and two other Christian relatives found guilty on November 8 of “illegal business practices” were summoned to appear at a second trial on November 30. Reasons for granting the second trial are still obscure.
A fourth member of the family, Hu Jinyun, was also asked to appear, although she escaped sentencing in the first trial.
A new verdict is expected on Tuesday (December 20), according to a report from the China Aid Association (CAA).
Charges against Cai, his wife Xiao Yunfei and her brother Xiao Gaowen were filed after public security officials raided a warehouse containing more than 237,000 copies of the Bible and other religious publications in September 2004.
Cai’s sister-in-law Hu Jinyun was charged with “concealing illegally acquired goods” after she deposited 80,000 yuan – received from Xiao Yunfei – into a personal bank account. Hu Jinyun escaped punishment after providing evidence to police, Reuters reported.
During the first trial, defense lawyers argued that the books were printed for free distribution throughout house church networks and should not be considered a “profit-making” venture as alleged by the government.
The judge rejected these arguments and sentenced Cai to three years imprisonment, his wife to two years and her brother to 18 months.
A court clerk then visited Cai at the Qinghe detention center and warned him that his sentence would be increased if he “annoyed” the judges with an appeal. Facing heavy pressure, Cai and his family agreed to drop the appeal. (See Compass Direct, “Cai Pressured to Drop Appeal of Conviction in China,” November 16.)
Hu Jinyun was informed about the second trial just 48 hours before it took place on November 30. Some of the defense lawyers were asked not to attend this court session.
All four lawyers, however, will attend the session on Tuesday, along with two people from each of the defendants’ families.
The defendants have suffered torture and interrogation from the time of their arrest in September 2004. A key source told CAA that members of the State Security Bureau and Public Security Bureau (PSB) interrogated Cai almost 90 times from September 2004 to October of this year. These interrogation sessions were often held at midnight.
Hu Jinyun reported that police threatened all four of the defendants with electric shock batons and forced them to sign their names on sheets of blank paper with different dates.
Cai’s mother and Hu Jinyun have been under close surveillance since the first trial ended; they were also accused of betraying their country after they gave interviews to foreign media.
Xiao Yunfei’s lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, has also suffered intimidation. On November 22, CAA obtained an open letter written by Gao, detailing close surveillance and threats made against Gao, his wife and their 12-year-old daughter. Gao also said police cars had chased his vehicle on the road several times, occasionally striking it and endangering his life.
According to CAA, Gao recently made the decision to become a Christian.
Cai’s lawyer, Zhang Xingshui, offered to defend 29 house church leaders who were arrested at a meeting in Xincai county, Henan province on December 12. The meeting was apparently held to discuss a Christian social program for AIDS victims in the area.
PSB officers showed up with a search warrant and claimed the meeting was an illegal religious gathering.
On December 13, hours after Zhang offered his services and CAA issued a press release, all 29 Christians were released – although three motorbikes and a cell phone confiscated in the raid were not returned.