CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW AI WEIWEI TAX CASE

Chinese authorities have agreed to review the $2.4 million penalty issued to Ai Weiwei for alleged tax fraud, reports the AFP. As artforum.com reported here, shortly after his release from police custody this past June, the artist was charged with tax evasion linked to his company Fake Cultural Development Ltd., which is registered to the artist’s wife. In order to challenge the charge, Ai was given fifteen days to pay the guarantee, which he did, largely due to an outpouring of donations from his supporters. Last week, Ai’s lawyers turned in a nine-thousand-word document petitioning his case for review and “pointing out inconsistencies . . . including unregulated police involvement in Ai’s detention and violations of China’s tax code.” The Beijing tax bureau accepted the request yesterday.

Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer for Fake Cultural Development Ltd., said, “They have two months to review the case. If we are not satisfied with the results, we can bring the case to court.”