Chinese Former Researcher for New York Times to Face Trial
A Chinese journalist who worked for the New York Times will be put on trial on charges of exposing state secrets, his lawyer said today.
Zhao Yan, who worked as a researcher for the paper before his arrest in September 2004, won the Reporters Without Borders 2005 prize this month for journalists who have “shown a strong commitment to press freedom.”
The bill of indictment will probably be received by the court next week, Zhao’s lawyer, Mo Shaoping, said.
Zhao faces a possible prison sentence of 10 years or longer after security officials charged him with telling the New York Times details about a rivalry between China’s Communist Party leader at the time, Jiang Zemin, and his successor, Hu Jintao.
Zhao also faces a lesser charge of fraud dating from 2001.
The 2004 case stemmed from a report the newspaper published Sept. 7 saying Jiang was to retire as chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, his last official post, and thereby formally hand full power over to Hu. Jiang retired 12 days later.
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