Another suspect in the case was also sentenced to death and four others sentenced to seven years and life in prison, he added. Death sentences are automatically referred to China’s highest court for review.
Canada-China ties have hampered Canada’s arrest in late 2018 of Meng Wanzhou, a company executive and the daughter of Huawei’s founder, at the behest of the United States, which wants her be extradited to face fraud charges relating to the company’s relationship with Iran. His arrest has enraged Beijing, which calls it a political decision to limit the rise of China as a global technological power.
Ye’s sentencing came a day after his fellow Canadian, Xu Weihong, was sentenced to death by another court in Guandong Province. Convicted Canadian drug dealer Robert Schellenberg was sentenced to death in a sudden retrial shortly after Meng’s arrest, and a Canadian citizen identified as Fan Wei was sentenced to death in April 2019 for his role in a multinational drug smuggling case.
China also arrested former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor weeks after Meng’s arrest, accusing them of vague crimes against national security. China has also imposed restrictions on various Canadian exports in an apparent attempt to pressure China to release Meng.
The court press release gives no further details about the charges against Ye and the others. However, the Yangcheng Evening News website based in neighboring Guangzhou metropolis said Ye and co-defendant Lu Hanchang conspired with others to manufacture and transport drugs between May 2015 and January 2016.
Police seized approximately 218 kg of white crystals infused with the designer drug MDMA from a room used by the two, and found an additional 9.84 g of the drug in bags and residences used by Lu and others, according to the newspaper.
China, like many Asian countries, imposes severe penalties for manufacturing and selling drugs, and the country’s growing wealth and transformation into a global trading center have attracted increasing numbers of foreigners to its domestic market for illegal substances.
Asked about Ye’s conviction on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China “is a country of law and the relevant judicial bodies are handling the matter independently in strict accordance with the law. the law”.
Wang added that Meng’s detention was a “grave political incident” and again called for his release.
“When it comes to China-Canada relations, China is not responsible for the difficulties that current China-Canada relations are facing,” Wang said. “The Canadian side knows the crux of the matter very well.
