Canada Asked China For Clemency For Citizen Sentenced To Death - Freeland

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 16, 2019 | 06:27 AM

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th January, 2019) Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that Ottawa had officially asked Beijing to spare the life of its citizen sentenced to death on drug-smuggling charges.

"We have already spoken with China's ambassador to Canada and requested clemency," Freeland told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

Robert Schellenberg was handed death penalty on Monday after appealing the 15-year jail term he was given in 2016. Canada accused China of arbitrarily applying the capital punishment.

Freeland said she had a "very emotional conversation" with the man's father on Monday. She urged all Canadians going to China to consider the associated risks.