May 2, 2008 6:44 pm US/Pacific
Friends Hope To Free Stanford Grad Held In China
Linda Yee, Reporting
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
The Olympic torch runs have been noisy. And the spotlight has been on human rights violations in China. All this isn't lost on supporters of Jude Shao, a naturalized American businessman and Stanford graduate now marking ten years in a Shanghai prison for tax evasion.
"Trumped up charge," said Shao's Stanford classmate Caroline Pappajohn.
For five years, Shao's friends, all successful business leaders today, have fought for his release.
"This is a case where literally someone did not do something wrong," said Pappajohn, "and was charged without opportunity to present any evidence."
They're hoping now all the attention on China will help their classmate's case. They've got business records and legal documents proving his innocence.
Shao set up his export business here in San Francisco. He was sending medical equipment back to China. It was in his satellite office in Shanghai where his troubles began.
They say Chinese officials showed up one day demanding a special tax payment.
He had the documents to prove he already did, but the Chinese official, they say, allegedly wanted more.
"It was not so subtly hinted," explained Pappajohn, "That if he would pay a bribe, that this might all go away."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and members of Congress have appealed to the Chinese government. But nothing has happened.
His classmates are now focusing on parole. Shao was eligible two years ago.
They have gone to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, asking for help. Deputy Consul General Weilian Shen would not say much about Shao's case.
"Personally I don't have any comments now for this issue," Shen said. "I know this guy is in prison in China for committing crimes. That's all I know."
"What else can we do? It's just wrong," said Cyn Dai, another one of Shao's Stanford classmates.
This weekend, all of them will celebrate their 15-year reunion since graduating. Another party without him, but it is another gathering to talk about how to free Shao.
"We have to be cautious…we want to make sure we are trying to give China credit if they do this. That this will actually help them if they do this" said Pappajohn. "We want to be encouraging, "
No demonstrations for them. Just diplomacy.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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