Trump sought Xi's help on UCLA players arrested in China

Shanghai, Nov 14 (AFP) US President Donald Trumppersonally asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to intervene in thecase of three US college basketball p...

Shanghai, Nov 14 (AFP) US President Donald Trumppersonally asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to intervene in thecase of three US college basketball players arrested in Chinafor alleged shoplifting, a report said today.

Trump brought up the case in talks with Xi during histwo-day state visit to Beijing last week, the Washington Postreported, citing unnamed sources.

The story said White House press secretary Sarah HuckabeeSanders also confirmed via email that Trump had raised thematter.

UCLA players LiAngelo Ball -- the younger brother of LosAngeles Lakers rookie star Lonzo Ball -- and teammates CodyRiley and Jalen Hill were arrested last Tuesday in Hangzhou,near Shanghai.

The UCLA and Georgia Tech squads had taken a side trip tothe Hangzhou headquarters of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibabaa few days ahead of their weekend regular-season-opening gamein Shanghai.

The players were arrested on suspicion of stealing from aLouis Vuitton store and later freed on bail, ESPN reported,adding that authorities had surveillance footage of thealleged crimes.

UCLA won the game 63-60 on Saturday despite being withoutthe three players, who are still in Hangzhou awaiting aresolution of their situation, ESPN reported on Monday. Therest of the team flew home at the weekend.

An ESPN reporter travelling with the teams has quotedsources saying the three players could be in China for up totwo weeks.

Trump learned about the details of the case from aides,including his chief of staff John Kelly, the Washington Postquoted un unnamed official as saying. The official added thatSecretary of State Rex Tillerson also might have spoken aboutthe case with Trump.

Xi promised to look into the case and ensure that theplayers are treated fairly and expeditiously, the paper quoteda US official saying on condition of anonymity.

The official said Kelly remained in touch with theplayer's families and with Chinese authorities, adding thatcharges against the players had been reduced and the case wasproceeding toward a resolution, the Post said.

The US Consulate in Shanghai, and Chinese police andofficials, have declined to provide information confirming theplayers' whereabouts and status.

Besides occurring the same week as Trump's visit, thecase has raised waves in the United States due to theinvolvement of LiAngelo Ball, one of three high-profilebasketball-playing sons of LaVar Ball.

The elder Ball has become a media personality byaggressively promoting his sons as future NBA superstars andtravelled to China on the trip to promote his Big Baller Brandshoe and apparel line.

Shoplifting can bring jail time in China depending on thevalue of the goods. (AFP)UZM.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com