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Chinese authorities say artist owes back taxes

By the CNN Wire Staff
Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to speaks to reporters outside his studio in Beijing after his detainment by Chinese authorities.
Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to speaks to reporters outside his studio in Beijing after his detainment by Chinese authorities.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Attorney for Ai Weiwei is seeking a hearing to learn what evidence officials have
  • If there is valid evidence, attorney says he will advise artist to pay
  • Ai Weiwei was recentely released on bail

Beijing (CNN) -- Although prominent Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has been charged with tax evasion, his lawyer Pu Zhiqiang says that the tax authorities have yet to provide evidence for the charge.

Pu, a famous human rights lawyer in China, told CNN that he is currently applying to hold a hearing with the Beijing tax bureau to hear their evidence. He will call the bureau to confirm in the next three days, and hopes that the hearing will be held within 15 days.

Pu said that if the evidence is valid, he will advise Ai Weiwei's company to pay the back taxes of 5 million RMB (US$770,000) and the punishment fee of 7 million RMB (US$1 million), which is in accordance with Chinese regulations.

If he does not find the evidence valid, however, Pu said that the company will appeal.

Ai Weiwei faces restrictions
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Ai Weiwei, considered China's most famous artist, was originally detained in April on grounds of tax evasion. However, his family and human rights advocates believe that the real reason for his imprisonment is his outspoken criticism of the Chinese state.

After three months in jail, Ai Weiwei was released on bail just last Wednesday, possibly for medical concerns.

Some users of the Chinese microblog site Weibo as well as Twitter have heard about the tax problem and are trying to raise money to help Ai pay the taxes. Ai's wife Lu Qing said that she "is very grateful for their support and concerns."

According to Lu Qing, Ai Weiwei cannot take any interviews from the media because he is still on bail. Calls to Ai's mother rang unanswered Tuesday.

Michelle Philips contributed to this report.