‘We will not give up’: wife of jailed Chinese coal magnate vows to push for new trial after he loses appeal

Zhao Faqi’s 7½-year sentence for bribery and theft of state secrets was upheld in verdict that lasted just a few minutes, according to his wife Cathy Li

Former assistant judge Wang Linqing also lost his appeal against a 14-year jail term and fine for taking bribes and illegally obtaining state secrets

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Zhao Faqi’s appeal was dismissed by the Beijing Higher People’s Court on Monday. Photo: CCTV

Published: 4:00pm, 21 Jun 2022Updated: 4:06pm, 21 Jun 2022

The family of a Chinese coal magnate convicted of bribery and theft of state secrets will continue to fight for his release after he lost a court appeal on Monday, his wife said.

The Beijing Higher People’s Court rejected the appeal by Zhao Faqi, 55, and upheld a 7½-year jail sentence handed down by a lower court in the city last month.

In the same higher court on Monday, Wang Linqing, a former assistant judge at the Supreme People’s Court, also lost his appeal against a 14-year jail term and 1 million yuan (US$149,400) fine for taking bribes and illegally obtaining state secrets, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Wang, 49, had been found guilty last month of accepting bribes from people including Zhao and stealing court materials – related to a coal mine ownership dispute in Yulin, Shaanxi province in which Zhao was a plaintiff – that he passed to the businessman.

Former assistant judge Wang Linqing’s appeal was also rejected. Photo: CCTV

Zhao’s wife Cathy Li, who now lives in Canada, said the appeal verdict was delivered virtually and lasted only a few minutes.

“The judge announced that the appeal is dismissed and the original sentence stays. Then the whole thing was over,” Li said.

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