(Minghui.org) A higher court in Dandong City upheld the guilty verdict against a local woman sentenced for her faith without holding an hearing or conducting further investigation.

Ms. Zheng Shuchun was arrested on September 11, 2016 for putting up self-adhesive stickers bearing information about the Chinese communist regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Her lawyer entered a not guilty plea for her during her trial at the Yuanbao District Court on December 13. He argued that no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong and that his client had every right to spread information about the illegal persecution.

Ms. Zheng was later sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and fined 20,000 yuan.

Ms. Zheng’s family submitted their affidavit on March 14, 2017 to support her appeal against the wrongful conviction, but judge Li Xin of Dandong Intermediate Court declined to accept the affidavit. He also refused to hold a hearing as requested by the family.

When the family inquired about Ms. Zheng’s case two weeks later, judge Li told them that he’s decided to uphold her conviction, but reduce her sentence to 5.5 years and the fine to 5,000 yuan.

Ms. Zheng was transferred to Liaoning Province Women’s Prison on April 18. Her family is considering an appeal to the provincial superior court.