Dr. Han Bing was found not guilty of all charges by the jury on August 19. Dr. Bin Han, a former UC Davis researcher was arrested at his home on May 18, 2002, after being fired by the University of California at Davis on May 13. He was charged of stealing medical secrets, then trying to take them to China. Davis Police say they found evidence including dozens of missing vials of protein inside Han's home. Dr. Han was initially charged with 3 felony counts: (1) theft of trade secrets, (2) possession of stolen property, and (3) embezzlement. He. pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The government, based on affidavits filed by U.C. Davis employees, obtained a search warrant of his home, then asked for and gotten a no-bail hold. He was considered a flight risk because the authorities found a round-trip ticket to China during the search. However, as the defense proceeded with its own investigations, the case against Dr. Han began to collapse and the D. A. has already dropped two of the more serious charges. The one remaining charge is the embezzlement of 20 vials of plasma protein: 10 thrombin and 10 cryoprecipitate gel. Dr. Han was released on his own recognizance on June 4th, after being held without bail for 18 days.
Mr. Steward Katz, a lawyer, handled the case pro bono. However, his first defense lawyer's fee has to be paid. Donation is urged. Send donation to UPTE, 653 Andersen Road, Suite 20, Davis, California 95616. For further information, contact http://binhan.home.netcom.com.
Meantime, the Chinese American Political Action Committee (CPAC) calls on University of California, Davis not only to acknowledge responsibility but also to discipline those who made groundless accusations against Dr. Han, subjecting him and his family to months of suspicion and possibly even public scorn. It is now time for the University to do a soul-searching examination of how it has violated its own "Principles of Community" in persecuting an employee who challenged the system and in using the criminal justice system to impugn his integrity. We enjoin the University to institute strict guidelines immediately to "maintain a climate of justice marked by respect for each other"; otherwise it will face losing its credibility not only with the Chinese and Asian communities but also with other institutions of learning and the general public.