Chinese Protestant house church pastor ‘faces decade in prison’ on fraud charges
- Hao Zhiwei was arrested last year but is still awaiting trial on accusations that swindled money from the church
- Hao’s lawyer says conviction could set a precedent in using financial irregularities to persecute other house church leaders
A Protestant house church pastor in China has been charged with fraud over her handling of church offerings, raising fears that her conviction could set a dangerous legal precedent for other “house church” leaders.
Hao Zhiwei, a former minister at a Protestant church in Ezhou in central Hubei province, was arrested in July last year and charged four months later, according to an indictment issued by the city prosecutors in December.
According to the charges, Hao, 48, is accused of swindling 2.24 million yuan (US$332,850) in church offerings.
Two church staff members, Hong Ying and Wang Yuanxiang, were also accused of fraud but warranted leniency because they confessed, the indictment said.
Prosecutors have yet to set a trial date and while Hao has remained in detention, her two sons, one 13 years old and the other 17, have been left to fend for themselves because Hao’s husband died two years ago.
Si Weijiang, Hao’s lawyer, said his client had refused to plead guilty and faced at least 10 years in prison if convicted.