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Meredith Chen

Two Chinese investigative journalists detained in Sichuan province earlier this month after accusing a local Communist Party official of corruption have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Liu Hu, 50, a veteran Chinese investigative reporter, and his colleague, Wu Yingjiao, 34, were taken into custody on suspicion of “making false accusations” and conducting “illegal business operations”, police in Chengdu’s Jinjiang district said on February 2.
In an article posted last month that has since been taken down, the two cited a source as alleging that Pu Fayou, party secretary of Pujiang county, which is overseen by Chengdu, had abused his authority to suppress private enterprises.
The article said other county officials had been involved in corruption as well.


This is not the first time Liu has faced such charges. He was detained in 2013 under similar circumstances and was held for nearly a year before being acquitted.
The latest case has raised fresh concerns about abuse of power in China and the shrinking space for media oversight and public expression.
Reporters Without Borders, a group that lobbies for media freedom, said the detention highlighted “just how restrictive and hostile China has become towards independent reporting”.
On Saturday, authorities in Chengdu said that a municipal team had been formed to investigate the reporters’ claims and had determined that key allegations in the article were unfounded.
The same day, Jinjiang district police said the two men had been released.
“Upon their application … the coercive measures imposed on Liu and Wu were changed to release on bail pending trial in accordance with the law,” the district police said in a statement.
The case remained under investigation, it added.


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Case in Sichuan province raises fresh concerns about abuse of power and the shrinking space for media oversight and public expression


Case in Sichuan province raises fresh concerns about abuse of power and the shrinking space for media oversight and public expression.


China’s Communist Party

Liu He

Chinese journalists who accused a Communist Party official of corruption released on bail

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Case in Sichuan province raises fresh concerns about abuse of power and the shrinking space for media oversight and public expression

Case in Sichuan province raises fresh concerns about abuse of power and the shrinking space for media oversight and public expression