BEIJING | Tue Oct 2, 2012 7:31am EDT
(Reuters) – China’s most famous political dissident, Ai Weiwei, said on Tuesday authorities have revoked the business license of the company that produces his art in what he maintains is a trumped up case for criticizing the government.
The world-renowned artist, who faces a possible jail sentence on tax evasion charges, cited authorities as saying the company had failed to complete re-registration requirements.
Ai said the company was unable to register because the necessary documents to file an annual report were being held by the government.
Authorities confiscated papers and computers from him after he was taken into custody last year, he said. The 81-day detention raised an international outcry.
“They’ve returned computers, but not the accounting documents related to taxes,” the 55-year-old said, adding he received a notice on Sunday from public security authorities informing him that the license was being revoked.
