L.A. Times: Three UCLA basketball players held in China suspended indefinitely, offer apologies
UCLA basketball players LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, who have been suspended indefinitely by the Bruins, apologized at a news conference Wednesday morning about the incident in China that had them stay behind on a team trip after they were accused of shoplifting.
At the end of the news conference, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said that the players each admitted guilt and that charges had been withdrawn by Chinese authorities. They had paid $2,200 bail, surrendered their passports and agreed to travel restrictions. The bail was refunded. UCLA paid the expenses incurred by the players who were left behind when the rest of the team returned home, but said they may seek reimbursement.
Cody Riley said: “I want to start off by saying how ashamed and embarrassed I am,” Riley then took full responsibility for shoplifting.
Riley thanked President Trump for intervening on the players' behalf. "We really appreciate you helping us out,” he said.
Riley thanked various staff members and the Chinese police for the treatment they received.
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WNU Editor: The have been suspended indefinitely .... UCLA basketball players LiAngelo Ball, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill suspended (ESPN). They are also incredibly lucky that President Trump intervened .... Trump personally asked Xi Jinping to help resolve case of UCLA basketball players arrested in China (Washington Post). I helped a Russian couple that I know whose son was charged for the same infraction in Shanghai about 8 years ago. They were lucky .... it did not cost too much money .... but it took a long time to go to trial (7 months), and after he was convicted he was immediately expelled from the country. I told him later that he was lucky they expelled him .... a shop lifting conviction in China carries a 3 - 10 year prison sentence.
