China overturns Canadian Robert Schellenberg's death sentence: Reports
· Toronto Sun
Robert Schellenberg, the imprisoned Canadian man facing the death penalty in China for drug smuggling, reportedly had his sentence overturned.
According to reports by the New York Times and Agence France-Press on Friday, the native of British Columbia had his sentence reversed by China’s highest court.
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The news comes weeks after Prime Minister Mark Carney met with top officials in China, including President Xi Jinping, and signed a trade deal that saw the removal of tariffs from Chinese electric vehicles entering Canada in exchange for minimal tariffs on agricultural products.
“Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is aware of a decision issued by the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China in Mr. Robert Schellenberg’s case,” spokesperson Thida Ith said in a statement sent to AFP.
Consular services will continue to be provided to Schellenberg and his family by Global Affairs, the spokesperson said.
“Canada has advocated for clemency in this case, as it does for all Canadians who are sentenced to the death penalty,” Ith said.
Global Affairs declined to say whether diplomacy during Carney’s visit influenced Schellenberg’s case.
“Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be provided,” Ith said.
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Schellenberg was detained in China on drug charges in 2014.
In November 2018, Schellenberg was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug smuggling. After appealing the verdict, his case was retried in January 2019 and he found guilty and sentenced to death.
Prior to his retrial, Canadian authorities arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December 2018 following a request from the U.S. Department of Justice.
That led to the tit-for-tat detainment of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig on espionage charges that Ottawa condemned as retaliatory.
The arrests led to a frosty relationship between both countries until Carney’s visit to Beijing last month seeking to boost trade ties after U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed a trade war on its northern neighbours with tariffs on goods crossing the border.