Mainland Court Upholds Canadian Man's Death Sentence

A mainland court on Tuesday rejected Canadian Robert Schellenberg's appeal against a death sentence for drug smuggling.

The verdict on Schellenberg comes at a time when relations between the two countries remain frozen following Canada's arrest of a Huawei executive in late 2018.

Schellenberg was detained by the authorities in December 2014, charged with drug smuggling in January 2015, and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment on November 28, 2018.

A few days later on December 1, Canada detained Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies, in Vancouver on a US extradition warrant.

Beijing warned of unspecified consequences unless Meng was released.

Before the month was out, a court ordered a retrial of Schellenberg's case on December 29 when he appealed against the 15-year sentence.

In January 2019, the Dalian Intermediate People's Court in Liaoning province re-tried Schellenberg and imposed the death penalty.

The court heard Schellenberg's appeal against the death sentence in May last year, and confirmed the verdict on Tuesday.

Imposing a harsher sentence following an appeal is contrary to the spirit of Chinese procedural law, Beijing lawyers said.

The Canadian ambassador to China condemned the ruling.

Ambassador Dominic Barton told reporters that Canada remains remain deeply concerned about China's "arbitrary" use of the death penalty.

Barton also said that it is "not a coincidence" that China announced the results of Schellenberg's appeal while the case involving Meng is ongoing.

Two other Canadians have been charged and tried for espionage on the mainland.

The verdict for one of them, businessman Michael Spavor, is expected to be out as early as Wednesday, according to a Canadian source directly familiar with the matter.

A second source familiar with the matter confirmed Spavor's verdict is due this week. (Reuters)