The kidnap trial of 'Big Spender' Cheung Tze-keung and his gang members will be kept secret, mainland authorities ruled yesterday.
Only close relatives would be allowed to attend the trial at the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court, expected to be held as early as next week, mainland sources said.
Cheung and some of his gang members have been moved from a custody centre in the countryside to the high-security Guangzhou No 1 Detention Centre. They are awaiting trial for the alleged kidnap of two Hong Kong developers in the SAR in 1996 and 1997.
At least 40 lawyers will be representing the defendants.
Lawyers' fees were expected to amount to more than one million yuan (HK$934,000), sources said.
Assistant professor of law at the University of Hong Kong Dr Fu Hualing said there was no reason for a secret trial as there were no clear national security implications. 'It is a very big case. But it is an ordinary criminal case by nature,' he said.
