In my opinion, Canada goes too easy on 'white collar' crime. Rob a corner store and face serious consequences. But defraud pensioners of millions and the commercial crime section treats you with kid gloves. China's not like that, particularly when you steal from the state. They see that as the equivalent of denying babies their food, medicine for sick people, and clothing for the poor. Which in effect it is. China has been known to execute the perpetrators of such crimes.

Being Canadian doesn't absolve you of criminal wrongdoing in some other country. I hope the accused in this case don't receive China's harshest penalties. But if found guilty, they're unlikely to get the country club treatment they'd get in Canada. I'm OK with that.