Date

Liu Yao’s Case

Lai Wei’e’s Case

Aug 2015

Liu Yao began publishing articles online exposing He Zhongyou (何忠友), Party Secretary of Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, for illegal appropriation of a vast tract of farmland for a golf course project. (He Zhongyou is currently the Secretary of the CPC Political and Legal Affairs Commission in Guangdong.)

Nov 2015

Liu, using his real name, reported his allegations against He Zhongyou to the Guangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Dec 26, 2015

Liu detained by several unidentified individuals. His residence was searched by officers from the Yuancheng District Branch of the Heyuan Public Security Bureau.

Dec 30, 2015

Liu’s wife, Lai Wei’e, retained Beijing-based lawyer Yang Limin for legal assistance.

Dec 31, 2015

Lawyer Yang requested to meet with Liu; the Yuancheng District police denied his request.

(Around this time, an officer at the Yuancheng Branch of the Heyuan PSB confirmed to Yang that Liu had been put under residential surveillance on suspicion of “extortion” and “providing state secrets to foreign organizations.”

Liu said later that he was detained at the “Anti-graft Education Center” operated by the Heyuan Commission for Discipline Inspection, where he was abused and tortured, including being deprived of adequate clothing and food.)

Jan 7, 2016

The Southern Metropolis Daily published an article on Liu’s seizure, “Missing: well-known whistleblower Liu Yao who exposed corrupt officials,” but subsequent reporting by other mainland Chinese media outlets on Liu’s case was suppressed.

Jan 12, 2016

Lawyer Yang requested to meet with Liu; the Yuancheng District police denied his request for a second time.

Jan 17, 2016

Lai Wei’e was taken away from her residence and detained by the police. She was charged with “buying trafficked children,” a trumped-up charge based on her and Liu’s adoption of a young son.

Jun 23, 2016

Liu’s official arrest on the charge of “extortion” was approved by the Yuancheng District People’s Procuratorate of Heyuan City. Liu was officially arrested the following day and was detained at the Heyuan Detention Center.

July 4, 2016

Lawyer Yang requested to meet with Liu; the Yuancheng District police denied his request for a third time.

Nov 8, 2016

Liu was indicted by the Yuancheng District People’s Procuratorate, Heyuan City, Guangdong, on charges of “extortion,” “fraud,” and “buying trafficked children.”

Nov 22, 2016

Lai was sentenced to one year in prison by the Yuancheng District People’s Court.

Apr 14, 2017

Heyuan Municipal Intermediate People's Court ruled to uphold the lower court’s sentence.

Apr 24, 2017

Yuancheng District People’s Court of Heyuan City sentenced Liu to 20 years in prison and a fine of RMB 1.4 million for three crimes: “extortion,” “fraud,” and “buying trafficked children.”

May 3, 2017

Liu filed an appeal for his case.  Liu’s defense counsel Li Fangping, Yu Pinjian, Cai Ying, and Wang Fei requested an open appeal hearing. (Around this time, nearly 20,000 Heyuan residents signed a petition requesting the same.)

Aug 10, 2017

Heyuan Municipal Intermediate People's Court upheld the sentence of the lower court without a hearing.

Sep 15, 2017

Lawyers submitted an appeal to the Heyuan Municipal People’s Procuratorate.

Sep 19, 2017

Liu Yao was transferred to the Yangchun Prison, Guangdong, to serve his sentence.

End Oct, 2017

An appeal was submitted to the Heyuan Municipal Intermediate People's Court.

Dec 19, 2017

Heyuan Municipal People’s Procuratorate issued a dismissal of the appeal.

March 16, 2018

Liu submitted an appeal to the Guangdong Provincial People’s Procuratorate to dismiss the case.

As of this date, the Heyuan Municipal Intermediate People's Court has not responded to the appeal submitted at the end of October 2017.

Date

Procedural Status

Dec 26, 2015

Liu was put under “residential surveillance at a designated location” on suspicion of “providing state secretes to foreign organizations.”

Jun 24, 2016

Liu was officially arrested on the charge of “extortion.”

Apr 24, 2017

Yuancheng District People’s Court of Heyuan City sentenced Liu to 20 years in prison and a fine of RMB 1.4 million for three crimes: extortion, fraud, and trafficking minors.

May 3, 2017

Liu filed an appeal for his case. 

Aug 10, 2017

Heyuan Municipal Intermediate People's Court upheld the sentence of the lower court without a court hearing.

As of March 2018

Liu is currently held at the Yangchun Prison in Guangdong with access to lawyers.