International Relations
Beijing (AP) – Against the background of diplomatic tensions between China and Canada, a Chinese court has confirmed the death sentence against a Canadian drug dealer.
The Court of Appeal in northeast China’s Liaoning Province said the death penalty imposed on Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg in January 2019 would be upheld. In the last instance, China’s Supreme People’s Court has to confirm the death sentence.
Originally, Schellenberg received a 15-year prison sentence in November 2018. However, it was found to be too low shortly afterwards after Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, was arrested in Canada. The daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is accused of bank fraud in the United States in connection with violations of sanctions against Iran. A process is now under way in Canada to decide whether to extradite the businesswoman to the United States.
Since Meng Wanzhou’s arrest, two more Canadians have been held in China, which is why Beijing has been accused of “hostage diplomacy”. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were charged with espionage. Canadian media reported, citing people familiar with the process, that a verdict against Spavor could be expected this week. Both governments have asked each other to set their compatriots free again.
In China, convicted drug smugglers face either long prison terms or the death penalty. At least one other Canadian and one Australian had been sentenced to death there in the past two years.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210810-99-786289 / 2
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