Chinese authorities have up to 37 days to decide whether to pursue official approval for an arrest, one expert says; a probe could then take another two months before charges are brought
The three UCLA men’s basketball players arrested in China for allegedly shoplifting a day before U. S. President Donald Trump’s visit cannot leave their hotel until the end of the legal process, which could last months, ESPN reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.
The three University of California-Los Angeles players, freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, were arrested Tuesday, according to several media reports. Ball is the younger brother of National Basketball Association rookie Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The U. S. State Department and UCLA athletics officials declined to address how long legal proceedings might take. A State Department official said the department was aware of reports of three American citizens arrested in China and stood ready to provide assistance but had no further comment because of privacy considerations.
The Chinese government reported the incident to U. S. officials, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials previously said.
