Zhao Yan, the New York Times who was detained on suspicion of “leaking state secrets”, is apparently going to be accused of financial fraud. The Times reports:
Mr. Zhao was detained on Sept. 17, 2004, and in October was formally arrested on suspicion of revealing secrets.
Mr. Zhao’s detention followed the publication of an article in The Times that accurately predicted the resignation of Jiang Zemin, the former president and party leader, from his last remaining senior post, as military chairman…
In some other cases, [NY Times New York-based lawyer for this case] Mr. Cohen noted, security authorities who found themselves unable to justify initial allegations against a prisoner have brought lesser charges, like fraud, in an effort apparently to save official face.
Since detaining Mr. Zhao in September, the Ministry of State Security has not turned the case over to prosecutors for indictment, as by law it must do this month. The new fraud allegations could provide a legal basis for continuing to hold and investigate Mr. Zhao for many months more.
LINK:
New York Times: China Opens New Inquiry of Times Researcher Held Incommunicado