Wang Yan remembered the last time he listened to her husband's voice more than five years ago.
It was December 13, 2019, and Canadian citizen Lee Yongwi went to a public square in Shijiazang, Hebi province of China, when he spoke to his wife in Canada via mobile phone.
Wang reminded, “Suddenly, the call was over, as someone was catching his phone. And I called the other family (in China) and no one knew what had happened.”
Lee was seized by the City Police, who accused him of being a social media post “allegedly collecting public funds” by his company, Genghidai, a person's loan platform.
Canadian businessman Lee Yinghoi, who has been detained in China since 2019, has been seen in this unintentional photo provided by his family.
Press/Ho Wang Yan of Canada
Lee is ever in custody, without trial or conviction.
Now, his family is taking a rare step to talk to the public to seek solutions in its case.
Global Affairs Canada says it is familiar with 100 Canadians imprisoned in China.
However, it is unusual for his family to speak in Canada or put pressure on decisions related to their circumstances.
Chinese authorities launched a crackdown on online lenders in 2019, but Wang has maintained her husband's innocence in operating Changiadai, which the Chinese media described as the largest platform in Hebei.
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“Of course, we think he is innocent, but if he violates some laws or rules, please let him be tried and sentenced,” Wang said while interviewing a Canadian press in Vancouver.
“We have no problem about it … but it's been years since nothing has happened.”
Wang said Lee had no visits to the Canadian Embassy at the Habiti detention center other than his lawyer and staff.
Lee's daughter, Wandi Lee, was 21 years old when her father was arrested. He is sorry that he “basically increased my adult life without it.”
Recalling his last conversation before his arrest, Wandy Lee said, “My father, he has a habit not to talk about himself.” He said, “He just asked me what was happening in my life.”
“I am the smallest in my family, so there is always a trend that will save me a bit from what is happening.”
In response to the email's email, Global Affairs Canada said he was aware of Lee's detention and was providing consular assistance, but no additional details were released due to privacy concerns.
Li's family's comments came when Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said last month that Chinese authorities recently executed four Canadians, all of which are with all allegations of dual citizenship and drug crimes.
Former Chinese detained Michael Koorig said via an email that he would “advise the relatives of the detainees to” get a good Chinese lawyer. “
He said he would also pressure the Canadian government to advocate the detainees as well as contact human rights organizations – but this could face Chinese authorities.
He said, “Understand that there is a danger that if you press for a decision, the court can afford a relatively hard punishment.” “What they want is repentance and confession, and they may be willing to offer a light sentence in return.
“It is up to the lawyer to discuss this conversation.”
Koorig and fellow Canada's Michael Sapor was detained by China in 2018 and was held for more than a thousand days, on which the Canadian government said it was an attempt to put pressure on Canada to put Huawei's executive to Huawei's executive to put pressure on Canada.
Wang said he was unable to comment on recent executions in China because he was not aware of the situation around them.
But he said his family was concerned rapidly as LI detained people and health problems have emerged. She said her husband had hypertension and her guards refuse to allow her to meet a dentist.
Koorig said that Wang is not allowed to talk to her husband according to what he saw about others in the Chinese custody.
He said that although conditions may vary among various detention centers, Chinese facilities usually “refer to the minimum standards for the treatment of UN prisoners,” he said, “The UN does not meet the basic standards of Nelson Mandela's rules. “
“The detainees are usually limited to a cell that has only limited access to the outer area to roam,” he said. “There is very limited access to books to read. There is no media. There is no written content. There may be some television in the evening. A crowded cell is a tough …
The possibility of detention also means permanent surveillance, limited bathroom facilities and “zero privacy,” Koorig said.
Wandy Lee said she was hoping to return to her father's Canada.
He said, “Our hope is just that the word has come to a close, and hopefully if more and more people know about it, the government in China will probably be affected by the decision to decide on the issue and free my father.”
Wang Yan said he was aware of the potential dangers in speaking, but he is a move and confidence in his husband's case.
“We have no choice,” he said.
And copy 2025 Press of Canada