China delays Australian writer Yang Hengjun’s espionage trial for three months

His friend and supporter Feng Chongyi told South China Morning Post that Chinese authorities had explained the trial was postponed until April 9 due to the “serious and complicated” nature of the case. 

He said he believed the delay was actually because of Yang’s refusal to confess to any wrongdoing, complicating proceedings in a legal system that relies heavily on confessions to establish guilt.

Feng said Yang, who faces possible life in prison, had last received consular assistance from Australian officials on December 17.

“Yang does want to argue his case in court as soon as possible,” Feng told the newspaper.

“The delay is another kind of torture," he said.

Chinese-born Australian writer and pro-democracy political commentator Yang Hengjun has been formally charged with espionage in China after nearly two years of detention, ABC reported.

The man’s lawyer, Shang Baojun, told the broadcaster that Yang had been charged on Wednesday. The lawyer declined to provide further detail, saying that he was "strictly prohibited from being interviewed by the foreign media".

Yang’s wife in turn, told ABC that her husband "denies everything," viewing it as political persecution, and complains about "mental maltreatment" following "six-month-long residence under surveillance."

"He was officially indicted to the court and in accordance with the advice on indictment, the authority listed five crimes. However, due to confidentiality agreement, the lawyer can't reveal any details," Yang's wife explained.

Yang was detained in January 2019, when he arrived in China due to visa issues. The 55-year-old, who is said to be a former Chinese Foreign Ministry employee, has Australian citizenship. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has already said that Australia is pushing for a transparent, fair and just process in Yang's case.