Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was barred from a hearing Wednesday challenging a multi-million-dollar tax order against a firm he founded, he said, accusing authorities of trying to "crush" him. Ai, an internationally acclaimed artist also renowned for his political activism, disappeared into custody for 81 days last year as police rounded up dissidents amid online calls for Arab Spring-style protests in China.
On his release, he was accused of tax evasion linked to Fake Cultural Development Ltd - a company he founded, but which is legally registered in his wife's name. Lawyers for Fake have lodged an appeal against the charges, which Ai says are politically motivated and have no basis. He has accused the tax bureau of failing to follow correct procedures in the case.
The 54-year-old said the bureau had never seen the full, original file brought against the company, which the police still holds, and Fake's lawyers had also not been allowed to review the evidence. "How can you accuse someone but not give them the right to ask where this all came from?" he asked. "They are not professional and never intended to be professional, they just want to crush me."
Ai was able to pay the guarantee - needed by law to challenge the charge - thanks to a wave of donations from supporters. In April, lawyers for Fake filed a lawsuit against the tax bureau, which was being heard Wednesday. The court has until early August to rule on the case, Ai's lawyers said.
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