| STRAITS Times journalist Ching Cheong lost his
appeal yesterday after a Beijing court upheld his
five-year jail term for spying.
Both his family and employer expressed their
disappointment over the outcome.
Ching, who will be 57 next month, and his lawyers
were in court to hear the outcome of his appeal.
His brother Ching Hai, 60, who had travelled to
Beijing from Hong Kong with two siblings, told
reporters: 'He looked a lot older. He looked very
down.'
The journalist's wife Mary Lau, who remained in
Hong Kong, reacted with disappointment and anger.
'After having put in so much effort, we thought
there was some hope... Ultimately, there was none,'
she said yesterday afternoon.
Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang said: 'We are
naturally disappointed, but we have to respect the
decision of the court there.
'We appealed to Premier Wen Jiabao in September
for a reduction in the sentence on compassionate and
health grounds, and I hope that he will consider our
appeal favourably.'
A Singapore Press Holdings statement appealed to
the Chinese authorities to show Ching leniency and
compassion while he is serving his sentence.
'We will continue to provide all necessary
support and assistance to him and his family,' it
added.
Ching, who has maintained his innocence,
yesterday asked his lawyers to pass messages to his
family, The Straits Times and his friends.
To his family, he said: 'Take care of your
health. Even though I'm in jail, I'll stay strong.'
Earlier in court, one of the three judges read
the thrust of an eight-page written judgment, based
on a closed-door review of written defences
submitted by Ching and his lawyers, as well as
documents from prosecutors.
It found that Beijing's Second People's
Intermediate Court, which found Mr Ching guilty of
spying for Taiwan in August, had verified the
evidence produced for the case.
The court added that Ching had not submitted new
evidence in his appeal.
It ruled that media reports submitted by the
defence to prove that the Foundation on
International and Cross-Strait Studies (FICS) was
not a spy outfit lacked objectivity, and therefore
had no effect on the case. The journalist has been
accused of spying for FICS.
The court upheld the evidence presented in the
first verdict as 'clear and sufficient'. It rejected
the defence's appeal to overturn the original
conviction and change it to one of negligent leaking
of state secrets.
The family will now try to obtain medical parole
for
Ching, who suffers from high blood pressure,
insomnia and intestinal pains.
The head of Singapore Press Holdings' marketing
division, Mr Leslie Fong, who hired Ching in 1996
when he was The Straits Times' editor, said he was
'deeply, deeply pained by the thought of Ching
Cheong having to spend the next few years in a
prison'.
Speaking in his personal capacity, he said he was
thoroughly convinced that
Ching was a patriot dedicated to working for
his country's betterment.
suinoi@sph.com.sg
'I'M INNOCENT'
'I would like to thank ST for its understanding,
support, trust and financial support.
'Please believe me. I'm innocent. Once I've
regained my freedom, I will give the company a full
and detailed account.'CHING, IN A MESSAGE TO THE
STRAITS TIMES
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