Tycoon who criticised China’s ‘emperor’ and ‘clown’ faces corruption trial
- Ren Zhiqiang denied access to lawyers, family say, following investigations by Communist Party’s disciplinary officials
- He was seized in March after writing article attacking handling of coronavirus and President Xi Jinping’s expansion of power
The charges include graft, embezzlement, bribery and abuse of power as an employee of a state-owned enterprise, according to a notice issued by the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People’s Court.
According to China’s criminal law, Ren’s charges could lead to anywhere between a year in prison and the death penalty, which would usually be suspended for non-violent crimes. Accused parties in cases such as Ren’s are rarely acquitted.
Lawyers hired by Ren’s family had not been allowed to meet the 69-year-old tycoon as of Wednesday, according to a source close to his family, who confirmed they were aware of the trial.
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Communist Party investigating Ren Zhiqiang, outspoken critic of China’s coronavirus response
The hearing comes just over a month after the completion of investigations by disciplinary officials of the Communist Party, of which Ren had been a member.
