Canadian Robert Schellenberg sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking

[S.J.B.]

Retrial ordered for Canadian sentenced in China for drug smuggling
CBC
December 29th, 2018

A court in China has ordered a retrial for a Canadian man who was sentenced last month after being found guilty on drug-smuggling charge -- potentially adding more pressure to the fraught Canada-China relationship.

The Higher People's Court of Liaoning Province heard an appeal Saturday from Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who was given a 15-year prison sentence last month for his involvement in international drug-trafficking activities.

At the appeal hearing, prosecutors argued Schellenberg was likely to part of a international drugs smuggling operation.

In its decision, the appeals court ruled the "light punishment" of the 15-year sentence was "obviously inappropriate" and sent the case back to the Dalian Intermediate People's Court for retrial. That court, in the eastern port city of Dalian, began its hearing on the case back in March 2016.

In the decision, the court noted that Canadian diplomats were in court for the appeal.

Read the full story here.

 

[S.J.B.]

It's never a good time to be a Canadian trafficking drugs in China, but right now (due to the Huawei debacle) it's particularly bad. This guy will be incredibly lucky if he isn't given a death sentence.

 

[S.J.B.]

Canadian Robert Schellenberg sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking, PM Justin Trudeau vows to 'intercede'
Sarah Zheng
South China Morning Post
January 14th, 2019

A Chinese court on Monday sentenced Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg to death for drug trafficking in a dramatic turn of events that prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to vow to "intercede" in the case.

Trudeau expressed "extreme concern" and accused Beijing of "arbitrarily" applying the death sentence against Schellenberg.

In his strongest comments yet against China, Trudeau said "all countries around the world" should be concerned by Beijing's behaviour.

China's official Xinhua news agency had earlier reported that the Dalian Intermediate People's Court tried Schellenberg "in accordance with the law" and handed down the death penalty. The court also ruled that all his property would be confiscated. Schellenberg can now appeal the decision.

"The court will later announce more detailed information on the trial," Xinhua said on Monday evening. The retrial on Monday was attended by about 70 observers including a small group of foreign journalists.

Read the full story here.

 

[cj]

Damn. Tough break.