On the December 1, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretly sued China’s human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who will be “tried” next month. The CCP is still prohibiting Gao from meeting with his lawyer.
Shortly after Gao’s wife Geng He signed a formal request that Attorney Mo Shaoping represent her, she was threatened by Beijing police to void the contract. Attorney Mo Shaoping points out that this is a severe violation of the Chinese constitution.
Gao’s Wife Requests Mo Shaoping as Defense Lawyer
After 115 days of isolation, Geng He went to Attorney Mo Shaoping’s practicing office and requested him to speak in defense of her husband on December 7.
While Geng was at Mo’s office, Beijing police went to her home and returned the bank account passbook, two non-functioning cell phones and a damaged computer they had confiscated during a search on August 15. The police told Geng’s mother, “The outcome of this case will be determined solely by the authorities; it’s useless to hire a lawyer,” hinting that they knew of Geng He’s whereabouts.
Beijing Police Threaten Gao’s Wife
On December 8, a day after Geng He signed the Warrant of Attorney (the legal document requesting an attorney’s services), the department head of Beijing security force specializing in Gao Zhisheng’s case, Sun Wei, went to Gao’s home. Geng He did not answer the door.
When Geng He opened the door to go grocery shopping, Sun Wei and his men barged in and told Geng He to immediately withdraw her application to Attorney Mo, saying that her actions would not benefit anyone.
The police tried for more than six hours to persuade her, using both hard and soft tactics, but Geng still refused to cancel the warrant.
Police Actions Violate Law and Constitution
