Why China is turning to 'trial by television' in sensitive cases

[n2doc]

By Peter Ford,

Last month, Chinese police interrogators offered investigative reporter Liu Hu a deal.

“They told him that if he confessed his crime on TV he would be released,” says Mr. Liu’s lawyer, Zhou Ze.

Liu, refusing to acknowledge that his corruption allegations against a senior official were false, also refused to say publicly that he was guilty of defamation. The New Express reporter was formally arrested a month ago and is now awaiting trial.

That is the price Liu is paying for bucking a new police trend that defense lawyers here say makes a mockery of Chinese criminal procedure law. The police have persuaded at least six men accused of wrongdoing – but not officially charged with anything – to appear on national television over the past three months to confess their “crimes.”

“This is a step backward for China,” says Li Fangping, a prominent lawyer. “This is law enforcement by political campaign; it is a political matter, not a legal one.”

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http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2013/1028/Why-China-is-turning-to-trial-by-television-in-sensitive-cases

[Cerridwen]

1. I don't know why they don't just base it on the US model.

Money buys the best "justice."

Straight forward.

You know before you walk into the court room who's going to "win" based on credit rating, connections, and money.

Then attribute a person's financial well-being to God, mao or some such making it "divinely" determined and you've got all the best of the best of the US "justice" system.

And you don't have to worry about ratings.

[RC]

2. Don't be giving our Attorneys for the 1% any ideas.

Confess and walk free.

[elehhhhna]

3. OUR 1% gets to KEEP DOING IT and go free.

wth would they bother to confess lol?