Suspected art smuggler freed on bail in China
A suspected German art smuggler is free on bail after more than four months in a Beijing jail on tax evasion charges, Germany's foreign ministry said Friday in a case that has strained ties.
Chinese police took Nils Jennrich into custody on March 29 and formally detained him on May 7 for allegedly under-reporting the value of imported art to dodge 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in taxes.
A Chinese colleague was also detained at the time.
"The foreign ministry can confirm that the German citizen in question has been released on bail. The investigation continues," said a ministry spokeswoman.
"The German embassy in Beijing provided consular assistance and will continue to follow the case closely."
Chinese investigators have until December to present charges to prosecutors who will then have three months to determine whether to pursue the case.
Jennrich had initially been denied bail.
A document from customs police said Jennrich was "accused of violating various anti-smuggling provisions of the laws and regulations", his lawyer Nancy Murphy said last month.
The sentence for evading more than 500,000 yuan in duties ranges from 10 years to life, though courts may issue a lighter punishment.
Jennrich worked in Beijing as general manager for Hong Kong-based Integrated Fine Arts Solutions.
Other companies and collectors have recently faced questioning about evading import taxes, suggesting a broader crackdown, industry insiders say.
The German government has slammed Chinese handling of the case, with Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger calling Jennrich's detention conditions "unacceptable" and "not in accordance with international minimum standards."
She called in an newspaper interview last month for Jennrich to be released on bail or "at least held under house arrest."
AFP/jcw
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Chinese police took Nils Jennrich into custody on March 29 and formally detained him on May 7 for allegedly under-reporting the value of imported art to dodge 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in taxes.
A Chinese colleague was also detained at the time.
"The foreign ministry can confirm that the German citizen in question has been released on bail. The investigation continues," said a ministry spokeswoman.
"The German embassy in Beijing provided consular assistance and will continue to follow the case closely."
Chinese investigators have until December to present charges to prosecutors who will then have three months to determine whether to pursue the case.
Jennrich had initially been denied bail.
A document from customs police said Jennrich was "accused of violating various anti-smuggling provisions of the laws and regulations", his lawyer Nancy Murphy said last month.
The sentence for evading more than 500,000 yuan in duties ranges from 10 years to life, though courts may issue a lighter punishment.
Jennrich worked in Beijing as general manager for Hong Kong-based Integrated Fine Arts Solutions.
Other companies and collectors have recently faced questioning about evading import taxes, suggesting a broader crackdown, industry insiders say.
The German government has slammed Chinese handling of the case, with Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger calling Jennrich's detention conditions "unacceptable" and "not in accordance with international minimum standards."
She called in an newspaper interview last month for Jennrich to be released on bail or "at least held under house arrest."
AFP/jcw
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