Falungong sect fined by Chinese government

Australian Broadcast Corporation News, December 10, 1999

China's outlawed Falungong spiritual group and its founder Li Hongzhi have been hit with a 1.2 million US dollar fine for tax evasion.

Tax officials in Beijing say a preliminary survey done between 1994 and 1998, Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa Reasearch Society acquired monies from lectures and other activities without declaring tax.

They says other Falungong organizations nationwide earned more than 2.6 million dollars from selling materials, books and audio visual products.

Falungong was outlawed nationwide on July 22 after the group staged a series of protests nationwide calling for the protection of their right to meet and practice morning meditation exercises in Chinese parks.

Over 35,000 followers of the group have landed in police custody, while trials of the groups leaders have resulted in prison sentences of up to 12 years.