CrimsonPhantom
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RE: LiAngelo Ball, 2 other UCLA players arrested in China for shoplifting
Quote:If standard practices are applied, the three UCLA basketball players – including LiAngelo Ball – arrested Tuesday in mainland China under suspicion of shoplifting face between three and 10 years in prison if convicted, according a lawyer familiar with Chinese law who communicated with Yahoo Sports on the condition of anonymity because he doesn’t want to speak out about the Chinese government.
The three men could be detained for more than a month without American-style bail before local prosecutors even decide whether to press charges, according to William Nee, a Hong Kong-based researcher of the Chinese court system for Amnesty International.
Nee said it is not uncommon for a defendant to wait 30-37 days before being officially indicted. Among those indicted, Chinese prosecutors enjoy a 99.2 percent conviction rate, according to Nee’s research.
While it is unknown exactly what the players are being detained for, Chinese law calls for a fine and between three to 10 years in prison for anyone convicted of “robbing public or private property using force, coercion, or other methods.”
Nee, however, added that the United States consulate working with local attorneys may be able to get a resolution to their case sooner, although nothing is certain under the Chinese system.
“I would say they could be in quite a bit of trouble if they have solid proof that they shoplifted,” Nee told Yahoo Sports. “However, part of it will depend on whether their lawyers, the university, or the U.S. consulate can advocate and negotiate on their behalf.”
Ball is a UCLA freshman from Chino Hills, California, and is the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball. He is also the son of outspoken father and basketball sneaker entrepreneur LaVar Ball. The other two players are freshmen Cody Riley, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Jalen Hall, of Corona, California, according to a source.
Authorities believe the players shoplifted from a Louis Vuitton store near the UCLA team hotel outside of Shanghai. The Bruins are in China to play Georgia Tech on Saturday in the season opener.
The players were arrested Tuesday after local law enforcement came to the team hotel and questioned both UCLA and Georgia Tech players before taking the three away. ESPN first reported the arrests.
“We are aware of a situation involving UCLA student-athletes in Hangzhou, China,” UCLA said in a statement. “The University is cooperating fully with local authorities on this matter.”
Nee, who is based in Hong Kong, researched and authored a groundbreaking Amnesty International report on the Chinese system, notably coercion and forced confessions. In general, Nee said a defendant could be held in detention for weeks before prosecutors decide to press or drop charges.
“In most criminal cases that I know of, it’s very rare [or] unheard of for people to get American-style bail,” Nee said. “I doubt it’ll be likely that they’ll be released until they either are sentenced or fined, or whatever the punishment may be.”
Another United States-based lawyer with experience working criminal and civil courts in China agreed with Nee’s assessment and said it will take a concerted effort from the U.S. government to get them out of detention or have the charges/punishment relaxed. He spoke to Yahoo on background and on an unnamed basis because he didn’t want to be quoted speaking about the Chinese government.
Among the other factors will be how the players react to their detainment. Officials from the U.S. government will likely be able to visit with them and counsel them.
Then there is the specter of LaVar Ball, who could become a concern, according to a source familiar with UCLA’s thinking. LiAngelo is the middle of the three Ball brothers, who LaVar has built the Big Baller Brand shoe and apparel company on, as well as a reality television show. LiAngelo was seen on the reality show driving a Ferrari.
“LaVar is going to be a wild card, no one knows what he is going to do,” the source said. “Will he rail at the Chinese government? Will he rail on UCLA? Or just say, ‘My kid is an idiot’?”
https://sports.yahoo.com/liangelo-ball-u...58780.html
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