Three hour trial for accused spy

CNN

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Lasting only a few hours, the secretive espionage trial of a U.S.-based Chinese dissident ended Monday behind closed doors and without a verdict.

"Yang Jianli stood trial for three hours this morning and pleaded not guilty to the charges," Mo Shaoping, Yang's attorney, told CNN.

"He was calm and able to defend himself in court without being interrupted by the judge."

The verdict and sentencing, if Yang is found guilty, will be handed down by Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court within a month under Chinese laws, Mo said.

He said Yang could receive a life sentence if convicted of spying for Taiwan, but declined to speculate if his client would be expelled if found guilty.

Yang, 40, a Chinese scholar living in the Boston area with permanent U.S. residency, was indicted July 17 in Beijing after spending more than a year in jail.

He was arrested in April 2002 for allegedly using a friend's passport to enter China and traveling with a fade I.D. for a week to observe labor unrest in northeastern China.

Yang operates the Boston-based Foundation for China in the 21st Century and has been blacklisted by Chinese authorities since 1989 for his participation in pro-democracy demonstrations.

No observers were allowed in the courtroom because the case reportedly involves state secrets, Mo said, adding that U.S. embassy officials had sought to attend the trial without success.

The U.S. Senate last week condemned Yang's lengthy detention and called for his immediate and unconditional release.

Yang is the second U.S.-based Chinese dissident to go on trial this year on espionage charges.

In February, Wang Bingzhang was sentenced in southern China to life in prison on charges of terrorism and spying for Taiwan.

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Source: "CNN".