Zeng Hanlin, the high-profile fugitive repatriated to China from Canada, appeared before a Chengdu court in Sichuan province yesterday, a relative said.
The 65-year-old Zeng, who was one of China's 10 most-wanted fugitives, was returned to his homeland in February. His niece, Zeng Ming, attended the hearing and said her uncle appeared before the Jinniu District Intermediate People's Court yesterday on charges of contract fraud.
'We requested an open and fair hearing that would have allowed the media and the public to attend, but [our request] fell on deaf ears,' she said. 'The 20-odd seats inside the courtroom were almost all occupied by officials, with only two being assigned to our family members.'
Zeng's son, Sam Zeng, speaking in Hong Kong, said his father had been prohibited from meeting relatives since being repatriated to China. Sam said doctors in Canada had diagnosed his father as having high blood pressure and diabetes along with other health concerns.
'But Chengdu authorities failed to provide proper treatment or enough medication for him, causing my father to write a letter to family members in Canada to seek help,' Sam said.
The family worried whether he would receive a fair trial