On 9 June 2010, the Sichuan Provincial High People's Court announced that it had upheld the judgment of activist and environmentalist Tan Zuoren. Tan was convicted of "inciting subversion of state power" in February 2010 and sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional three years' deprivation of political rights, following a trial in August 2009. "The Sichuan High Court squandered an opportunity to correct the lower court's harsh and unfair verdict," said Renee Xia, CHRD's International Director. "Mr. Tan is yet another victim of the Chinese government's abuse of the legal system to persecute human rights activists." About 50 supporters gathered outside of the Sichuan Intermediate People's Court, where the verdict was announced. At least four supporters, including Tan's daughter Li Chang (??), Chengdu activist Chen Yunfei and petitioner Li Tinghui, were taken away by the police. Representatives from the German embassy as well as a number of Hong Kong media were present outside of the courthouse. Tan's wife was allowed to enter the court. Shortly after the verdict was announced in February 2010, Tan appealed. On April 19, the Sichuan High Court rejected his request for an open hearing. On April 20, Tan's lawyers Pu Zhiqiang and Xia Lin then submitted a second application for an open hearing of Tan's appeal along with a defense statement (for the full text of the defense statement, in Chinese, please click here). On June 6, the Sichuan High Court contacted Mr. Pu to inform him that a verdict had already been reached and that it would be announced on June 9.