Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg risks death penalty in China as drug smuggling retrial begins
- Court called for harsher sentence after he was given 15 years in prison, with some foreigners having previously faced the death penalty for drug offences
- Retrial announced amid Chinese government’s anger over arrest in Canada of Huawei executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou
A Canadian man accused of drug smuggling in China faced a new trial on Monday after an upper court called for a harsher sentence in a case that could further strain ties between Beijing and Ottawa.
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison and a 150,000 yuan (US$22,000) fine, could now potentially face the death penalty under China’s zero-tolerance drug laws.
His retrial in the northeast city of Dalian, Liaoning province, comes against the backdrop of the Chinese government’s anger over the arrest in Canada of a top executive of telecoms giant Huawei last month.
Chinese authorities have since detained two Canadian nationals – a former diplomat and a business consultant – on suspicion of endangering national security.
Schellenberg, who was reportedly detained in the northeastern Liaoning province in 2014, is accused of playing an important role in drug smuggling and of potentially being involved in international organised drug trafficking activities.