SAN FRANCISCO (March 23, 2022) — A Guangzhou-based Chinese businessman who was convicted of producing illegal publications, including a vast trove of literature promoting the banned spiritual group Falun Gong, has been released from prison after serving a long sentence, Dui Hua has learned.
Liang Jiantian (梁鉴添), now 70 years old, was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 for illegal business activities (covered by Article 225 of the Criminal Law) and manufacturing or reproducing obscene materials for profit (covered by Article 363). Dui Hua found his name in open sources in 2002 and began placing Liang’s name on lists submitted to the Chinese government. In 2007, Liang’s sentence was commuted and replaced with a sentence of 20 years imprisonment followed by seven years deprivation of political rights (DPR). The sentence was due to expire in 2027. Liang served his sentence in Panyu Prison. Prison authorities claim he was in good health on his release.
Dui Hua placed Liang’s name on 20 lists submitted to the Chinese government. Eighteen responses were received, and they chronicled multiple sentence reductions totaling six years.
Liang and his business partner Liu Jingsong (刘镜崧) were convicted by the Guangzhou Intermediate Court in November 2000 of illegal business activities and subsequently sentenced, respectively, to life in prison and 20 years in prison. Between September 1996 and March 2000, the pair were accused of producing publications without a permit. Among the “illegal publications” printed, there were nearly five million books or pamphlets of Falun Gong materials, generating 14 million RMB in revenue. It is not known whether Liang was a Falun Gong practitioner.
A third defendant in the same trial, Liu Hua (刘华), who placed the order for the Falun Gong materials, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Liang has begun serving his DPR sentence. During this period, his employment opportunities are limited, he is under constant surveillance, and he is unable to publish or give interviews to foreign journalists. It is not known if Liang has benefited from reductions in his DPR sentence.
For questions, please contact Dui Hua.