(Minghui.org) Mr. Wang Hongbin was tried by the Shuangcheng District Court on September 13, 2016 for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.

Mr. Wang's lawyer argued that the prosecution presented no evidence showing that his client had committed a crime. The witness mentioned on the arrest document did not appear in court and was not named. The document was not signed. Furthermore, the men arresting Mr. Wang did not wear police uniforms or show identification.

The lawyer further argued that the Falun Gong books confiscated from Mr. Wang's home were his lawful possessions and caused no harm to anyone. He added that no law criminalizes Falun Gong; on the contrary, freedom of religion is protected by the Chinese Constitution.

The prosecutor introduced new evidence during the trial, an item that was not recorded on her list of evidence.

Mr. Wang Hongbin lives in the Jiangbei District of Harbin City. He was taken to the Shuangcheng District Detention Center on May 6, 2016. His family was told that he was under administrative detention for 15 days and would be released on May 23. However, this was changed to a criminal detention.