Journalist appeals against conviction for spying
Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong, jailed in Beijing for five years on espionage charges, filed an appeal yesterday denying he spied for Taiwan.
A legal expert said there were hopes Ching, China correspondent of Singapore's The Straits Times, would get an early release in exchange for pleading guilty to a lesser crime. Ching's wife, Mary Lau Man-yee, confirmed the appeal had been filed. 'We are trying our best to secure his acquittal and early release.'
Ching, who was detained on the mainland in April last year and formally arrested the following August, was sentenced nine days ago.
He was accused of passing state secrets and confidential military information to Taiwan's Foundation on International and Cross-Strait Studies. Beijing alleges the think-tank is a front for Taiwanese intelligence agencies - an allegation denied by the foundation.
It is believed the appeal filing denies Ching knew the think-tank was an espionage body. The court is expected to rule on the appeal in four to six weeks but the process could be extended for a further month because of the complexity of the case.
Chinese law expert Ong Yew-kim said it was unlikely the court would reverse the earlier verdict. The best course of action would be to plead to a lesser crime in exchange for leniency.
'If Ching Cheong pleads [to the lesser charge] rather than spying, which is supported by evidence, the courts could resentence him to three years and he could then go home sooner by seeking medical parole,' he said.
According to a document leaked on the internet - believed to be the court judgment - Ching started contributing articles to the foundation in 2000 and received a HK$300,000 research fee. He had provided two articles with intelligence-related information and one article with military secrets from May 2004.
The Ta Kung Pao newspaper reported on Thursday that Ching admitted during 'pre-trial' that he knew the foundation was a spy organisation. He denied this during the trial but the court believed the earlier statement was reliable, as Ching was not forced or enticed into giving it, the article said.
Mak Chai-ming, spokesman for the Ching Cheong Incident Concern Group, said friends of the journalist were outraged at Ching's treatment. Although Ching's supporters were seeking his release, it was too early to ask for medical parole. 'He is not a spy and how can he admit to something he has not done?' Mr Mak said.
Serenade Woo Lai-wan, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, said petitions from overseas journalists and press groups continued to pour in for a signature campaign.
Singapore Press Holdings, which owns The Straits Times, issued a statement urging Beijing to accept the appeal application.
'SPH is continuing to provide Mr Ching and his family with legal and financial support, and appeals to the Chinese authorities to consider his application for the conviction and sentence to be reviewed with leniency and compassion, given his professional standing and record,' the company said.
