Shenzhen court gives Hong Kong publisher Yiu Man-tin 10-year prison sentence

A Shenzhen court sentenced Hong Kong publisher Yiu Man-tin to 10 years in jail yesterday for "smuggling ordinary goods", his lawyer said.

The retired engineer-turned-publisher, 73, who is also known as Yao Wentian, was detained on October 27. Prior to his arrest he had been preparing to publish a book entitled Godfather Xi Jinping by dissident and writer Yu Jie, according to his family and friends.

"The verdict is unfair," Ding Xikui, Yiu's lawyer, said.

Yu Jie said: "It's a persecution of intellectuals for their words and a blow to Hong Kong's freedom of speech and press."

Yiu's 74-year-old wife, who recently underwent foot surgery in Hong Kong and could not make it to the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, said she was contemplating an appeal: "Of course I think the verdict is unjust. He did nothing wrong. I want to appeal, but I have to discuss that with the lawyers first."