Why China is turning to 'trial by television' in sensitive cases [View all]
By Peter Ford,
Last month, Chinese police interrogators offered investigative reporter Liu Hu a deal.
“They told him that if he confessed his crime on TV he would be released,” says Mr. Liu’s lawyer, Zhou Ze.
Liu, refusing to acknowledge that his corruption allegations against a senior official were false, also refused to say publicly that he was guilty of defamation. The New Express reporter was formally arrested a month ago and is now awaiting trial.
That is the price Liu is paying for bucking a new police trend that defense lawyers here say makes a mockery of Chinese criminal procedure law. The police have persuaded at least six men accused of wrongdoing – but not officially charged with anything – to appear on national television over the past three months to confess their “crimes.”
“This is a step backward for China,” says Li Fangping, a prominent lawyer. “This is law enforcement by political campaign; it is a political matter, not a legal one.”
more
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2013/1028/Why-China-is-turning-to-trial-by-television-in-sensitive-cases
= new reply since forum marked as read