Family, Friends Barred From American’s Trial
The son and friends of an American accused by China of obtaining secrets and paying bribes were not allowed to attend his trial, even though authorities said it would be open, the man’s U.S. lawyer said.
Fong Fuming, 66, an electrical engineer from West Orange, N.J., went on trial in Beijing on Monday.
But lawyer Jerome A. Cohen said one of Fong’s sons, who came from Hong Kong, and friends were not allowed to attend the trial.
The court refused to delay the trial for a week so that Fong’s legal team could prepare a defense, Cohen said. Fong’s indictment was dated Sept. 14, but his lawyers did not learn of it until Oct. 9, he said.
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