Hands Off Cain
NEWS ARCHIVE·DEATH PENALTY·JANUARY 28, 2002
China

A Hong Kong businessman was sentenced to two years...

A Hong Kong businessman was sentenced to two years imprisonment for smuggling Bibles into the mainland and two mainlanders have been jailed for three years and fined 150,000 dollars each

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A Hong Kong businessman was sentenced to two years imprisonment for smuggling Bibles into the mainland and two mainlanders have been jailed for three years and fined 150,000 dollars each. All three say they will appeal.
The Hong Kong man, Lai Kwong-keung [also known as Li Guangqiang], was detained in May 2001, accused of smuggling more than 16,000 Bibles into Fujian Province. Two mainland Christians, who allegedly asked Lai to smuggle the Bibles, were charged with similar offences.
The three were initially charged under anti-cult laws which carry a potential death sentence, but this was later reduced to engaging in illegal business activity. All three men were convicted during brief trials in Fuqing City in Fujian Province.
The Hong Kong man was jailed for two years, the mainlanders for three years each. During the trial about 40 protesters sang religious songs outside the court. According to a court spokesman, one of the protest leaders was taken away by the police.
SOURCES
  • (Sources: RTHK Radio 3 audio web site monitored by BBC, 28/01/2002)