An appeal from the death sentence for a Canadian national arrested in China has been denied. On Tuesday, the High People's Court of Liaoning Province in northeastern China ruled that the evidence previously presented was enough to warrant the death of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg.
Schellenberg was arrested in China in 2014 over accusations of attempting to smuggle more than 225 kilograms of methamphetamine to Australia. In 2018, Schellenberg was sentenced by a lower court to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking.
His lawyers, then, appealed the sentence despite warnings that it may result in harsher punishment. Schellenberg has repeatedly denied the accusations and maintains his innocence.
In a retrial held in 2019, Schellenberg was sentenced to death after just one day in court. The sentencing came just a month after Canadian authorities arrested Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou. Schellenberg's swift sentencing stunned legal experts and human rights advocates, who have accused China of politicizing the case.
Ambassador Barton remarks on #RobertSchellenberg’s verdict pronouncement after existing the courtroom. pic.twitter.com/coXX1bl6y1 — Canada in China (@CanadaChina) August 10, 2021
The high court in Shenyang said Tuesday the facts and evidence presented in the earlier trials were "reliable and sufficient." The court ruled that the conviction and sentence were appropriate for the crime and is in accordance with the laws of the country.
The denial of the appeal will immediately prompt a mandatory review by China's highest court, the Supreme People's Court. The review is standard procedure in China for cases involving the death penalty.
The ruling of Schellenberg's appeal comes as Meng's extradition case in Canada enters into its final stages. Since the arrest of the daughter of Huawei's founder, Ren Zhengfei, tensions between China and Canada have escalated.
After Meng was arrested, Chinese authorities detained two Canadians over allegations of espionage. Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor are currently in Chinese custody as they await their trial.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly called on China for the release of the arrested Canadian citizens. He also accused China of using the arrests to strong-arm the country into ruling in Meng's favor in her extradition case.
China has denied that the detention of the two Michaels and Schellenberg's sentencing was in retaliation for Meng's arrest.
