Human rights activists Su Changlan and Chen Qitang (also known as Tian Li), both from Foshan, Guangdong Province, were tried for and convicted of “subversion of state power” on March 31, 2017 in Foshan Intermediate Court. In separate announcements, the court sentenced Su to three-years’ imprisonment with  three-years’ deprivation of political rights, and sentenced Chen to four-and-a-half-years’ imprisonment with three-years’ deprivation of political rights.

In both cases, the detention periods were twice extended to allow for further investigation, the cases twice returned by the procuratorate for additional investigation, and their trial deadlines were extended by the court five times. Both Su and Chen were not permitted to meet with lawyers during the criminal investigation stage. During the reading of the judgment in Su’s case, only the prosecutor’s case and the court’s decision were read, without reference to Su’s defense lawyer’s arguments. Su was also denied the opportunity to give supplementary evidence for defense, and was not asked whether she wished to appeal before the end of the sentencing hearing. 

苏昌兰、陈启棠今天上午在佛山中院分别宣判

刘晓原

2017年3月31日

苏昌兰、陈启棠被控煽动颠覆国家政权罪案，今天上午在佛山中院分别宣判。

2014年10月27日苏昌兰被刑拘，至今羁押二年零五个多月；同年11月25日，陈启棠被刑拘，至今羁押二年零四个多月。

两案曾两次延长侦查羁押期限，检察院两次退回补充侦查，法院五次延长审理期限（高院批准一次，最高法批准四次）。

佛山中院对两案会作出什么样的判决结果，今天上午就可见分晓，但我对结果不乐观。苏昌兰、陈启棠被刑拘后，我与吴魁明律师担任苏昌兰的辩护人，与李方平律师担任陈启棠辩护人。两案在刑事侦查阶段，警方没允许辩护律师会见。直到移送检察院审查起诉后，不需批准了，才得以会见。但每次会见，看守所又要求我们必须打电话预约。

宣判不到三分钟，判苏昌兰有罪，判处有期徒刑三年，剥夺政治权利三年。极为荒唐的宣判，宣读判决书，只读公诉方的指控和法院的认定，不说辩护律师的辩护观点。宣判后，也不问苏昌兰是否上诉就敲法槌，说宣判结束。刚宣布开庭后，苏昌兰向审判长提出写了有䃼充辩护意见，也不允许她说。

陈启棠案件宣判完毕，也不到三分钟，判处四年六个月，剥夺政治权利三年。