Prominent Chinese rights lawyer Xia Lin, who defended artist Ai Weiwei, sentenced to 12 years’ jail for fraud

Xia defended many high-profile politically sensitive cases

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Lawyer Xia Lin, who defended activists and others involved in politically sensitive cases, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday for fraud. Photo: AP

Published: 3:36pm, 22 Sep 2016Updated: 9:08am, 23 Sep 2016

A prominent mainland rights lawyer who took on high-profile politically sensitive cases has been jailed for 12 years for fraud in one of the harshest sentences to be imposed on rights advocates in recent years.

After being detained for two years, Xia Lin, 46, was found guilty in the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People’s Court on Thursday of fraud involving 4.8 million yuan (HK$5.6 million).

Xia, whose former clients included outspoken artist Ai Weiwei, insisted he was innocent and vowed to appeal.

Policemen stand behind Lin Ru, the wife of civil rights lawyer Xia Lin, as she talks to media near the Beijing Number 2 People's Intermediate Court after her husband was sentenced to 12 years in prison on fraud charges on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Lin Ru, the wife of civil rights lawyer Xia Lin, is surrounded by police near the Beijing Number 2 People's Intermediate Court on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

As court officers dragged him out of the courtroom, Xia called the sentence “an act of retaliation” by the authorities for his involvement in sensitive cases, according to his defence lawyer and his wife, who were present at the sentencing.