Falun Gong prisoner released in China

ABC Radio Australia News/March 19, 2003

China has released a former follower of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement who is a permanent United States resident and whose imprisonment Washington had protested against.

The official Xinhua news agency says Teng Chunyan, 40, was released recently after 'regretting' her crimes.

Her release came more than a month before the end of her three-year prison term.

Ms Teng was jailed in 2000 for collecting and sending intelligence for overseas organisations.

Falun Gong was banned in China in 1999 and branded an evil cult.

The group says more than 1,600 members have died in police custody.