HEFEI, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- A higher court in an east China province has upheld the sentences in the case of cable TV network sabotage by a group of eight Falun Gong followers, following an appeal.

　　At about 21:00 on May 31 this year, the group interrupted the cable TV network broadcast in progress in some districts in Hefei,capital of Anhui Province, for about half an hour, affecting approximately 3,900 viewers.

　　The eight saboteurs, including Sun Chan, Sun Fangqi and Zhang Jialin, were found guilty by the Baohe District Court in Hefei.

　　They were sentenced to prison terms of five to 13 years for hijacking cable television transmissions and for making a propaganda program on behalf of the cult.

　　The Hefei Intermediate People's Court recently confirmed that the actions of the eight Falun Gong followers constituted a crime based on further investigation.

　　According to the court, the saboteurs broke the law by undermining the enforcement of the state laws by sabotaging broadcasting and television facilities through the cult organization. Enditem