China rejects Canada´s plea for clemency for Robert Lloyd Schellenberg sentenced to death for drug trafficking
(The Star Fashion & Style)

OTTAWA— The Chinese government has rejected the Trudeau government’s appeal for clemency for Robert Lloyd Schellenberg who saw a 15-year jail sentence on drug trafficking converted to the death penalty.In a news conference in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying turned aside Canada’s criticism of a hastily-convened judicial appeal Monday where Schellenberg was sentenced to death — a sentence Trudeau condemned as “arbitrary� and the Liberal government has sought to suspend.In Beijing, Hua called it “highly irresponsible of the Canadian leader to use ‘arbitrary’ to describe China’s trial of the Schellenberg case,� according to an English transcript of her comments posted on the government’s website. She said the Chinese court is independent, acted according to its rules and its decision would stand.Trudeau’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland directly conveyed Canada’s request for clemency in the face of Schellenberg’s death sentence.But Hua — echoing Trudeau’s comments in defence of Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on an extradition request from the U.S. — said China’s government would not interfere in the judicial proceedings against Schellenberg.“China is a country governed by law. In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the people’s courts and the people’s procuratorates shall independently exercise the judicial and procuratorial powers respectively in accordance with the provisions of the law, free from any interference from administrative organs.�Read more:Opinion | David Olive: China needs to pay a heavy price for its treatment of CanadiansWhat we know and don’t know about Robert Schellenberg’s death sentence in ChinaChina’s rejection of Canada’s plea comes as the U.S. State Department slammed China’s death sentence against the Canad ...