A Chinese-born US businessman, David Lee, has been sentenced to five years in prison in China on charges related to a criminal case from nearly 25 years ago. The sentencing has raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of law enforcement in China and has sparked calls for Lee's release on humanitarian parole.
Lee was found guilty of intentional injury and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," a vague charge often used against individuals perceived as a threat to social stability. The charges stem from three altercations in 2000 and 2001, one of which led to a man's death. However, Lee's family disputes the severity of his involvement, saying his role was minor.
Despite the charges, Lee had traveled to China nearly every month for his work as a wholesale lighting supplier for Home Depot, often spending months at a time in the country without issue. He was abruptly arrested in April last year in the elevator bank of his hotel in Hebei Province, where he grew up.
Lee's family has expressed concern about his health, saying he has been hospitalized and may have suffered a stroke. The US Embassy has been allowed to visit him, and reports indicate he has lost significant weight. The sentencing comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and China, fueled by President Trump's tariffs.
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