The New York Times reports on the formal arrest of activist Hu Jia:
Mr. Hu, 34, was first detained on Dec. 27, when security agents burst into his suburban Beijing apartment and dragged him away on suspicion of subverting state power. The authorities formalized charges against him this week when police officers delivered an arrest warrant to Mr. Hu’s wife on Wednesday night, one of Mr. Hu’s lawyers said.
…The authorities still have not specified any details about the charges against Mr. Hu. His lawyers have been forbidden to meet with him because the authorities say that the case involves a state secret.
Under the next stage of the legal process, the police may continue investigating Mr. Hu’s case for two to seven months before handing it over to Chinese prosecutors. Prosecutors must eventually decide whether to indict Mr. Hu and take him to trial.
See Hu Jia’s documentary “Prisoner in Freedom City.”
Also read Jonathan Watts’ article: China arrests leading rights activist.
