West Kowloon - A Hong Kong magistrates’ court adjourned the proceedings of retired Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen and five co-defendants, until the next month, after just two days into the trial.
The trial was supposed to last five days however Principal Magistrate Ada Yim adjourned the trial to Oct. 26 after defense lawyers had attempted to cross-examine police witnesses called by the prosecution, Catholic News Service reported.
Cardinal Zen, the 90-year-old humanitarian activist and pro-democracy advocate, was detained last May 11 in connection with his role as administrator of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund.
The fund, which had been able to raise $34.4 million before it was shut down last year, supported pro-democracy demonstrations by paying for the legal and medical expenses of protesters.
If found guilty, Cardinal Zen and his co-defendants face a $1,300 fine.
Those accused along with the retired Cardinal are lawyer Margaret Ng, singer-activist Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po-keung, activist Sze Ching-wee and former lawmaker Cyd Ho.
The prosecution argued earlier this week that the fund had raised millions, with some of that money used for “political activities and non-charity events.” The defense stated that Cardinal Zen and the others had a right to form a group and charity under the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s constitution.
If indicted on the bigger criminal charges, Cardinal Zen could face deportation to Beijing.
There has been speculation, CNS reported, that the Chinese Communist Party would be satisfied to see the outspoken cardinal found guilty of the low-level charge “to keep him on a tighter leash.”
Several high-ranking bishops have expressed solidarity with the Cardinal.
In an open letter published on Sept. 23 in Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian bishops, Cardinal Fernando Filoni called Zen “a man of God and at times intemperate, but submissive to the love of Christ.”
“Hong Kong, China and the church have in him a devoted son not to be ashamed of,” added Filoni, who serves as prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. “This is a testimony to the truth.”
-RelUnP