Update | China puts anti-corruption activist Liu Ping on trial: lawyers

Three Chinese anti-corruption activists who unfurled banners calling for government officials to declare their assets stood trial on Tuesday for “illegal assembly”, a lawyer said, despite an official campaign against graft.

An anti-corruption drive championed by China’s President Xi Jinping has been heavily publicised in state-run media, but the ruling Communist party keeps a tight grip on political dissent and the case is seen as part of a clampdown on citizens who publicly demand reforms.

Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua – charged after taking photographs of themselves displaying the banners outside a housing complex in April – all pleaded not guilty, one of their lawyers said, adding that illegal assembly carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Asset disclosure is seen by some as a key change that could help China prevent graft after reports of enormous wealth amassed by officials and their families.

Si Weijiang, an attorney for Liu, said that at the hearing “we discussed the facts of the charge of illegal assembly, which are somewhat ridiculous – they just took photos outside an apartment.

“It has become a secret hearing, with only two family members let into the court to observe proceedings,” he said. “The court has violated regulations on holding open trials.”

The court in Xinyu, in the central province of Jiangxi, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.