(Minghui.org) Five and a half months after a higher court overturned a guilty verdict against a Falun Gong practitioner and ordered a new trial by the lower court, the practitioner was still kept in detention and his lawyer was not allowed to review his case document.

According to the lawyer, he and his client haven't received any notification for a new trial, and no one from the trial court has contacted them for interview regarding the new trial. His client is being detained beyond the legally permissive term.

Mr. Bai He's lawyer went to the court again on April 24, 2017. He called the secretary of Tao Yingang, the vice president of the court, who was in charge of Mr. Bai's case. The secretary put him on hold, saying that she was going to ask Tao for instructions, but never came back. When the lawyer called again, no one picked up the phone.

Mr. Bai He was arrested in July 2015 for suing former leader of Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin for ordering the persecution of Falun Gong. He had been detained at Jilin Province Detention Center for 21 months since then.

The Fengman Court held a secret trial against Mr. Bai without informing his lawyer or family on June 1, 2016. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on August 5, 2016. Mr. Bai soon filed an appeal.

The Jilin City Intermediate Court overturned the verdict on November 14, 2016 and ordered a new trial by Fengman Court.

Previous Reports:Higher Court Overturns Verdict and Orders New Trial of Falun Gong Practitioner