Bailed Chinese artist can't leave home without permission

The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei remains under investigation and cannot leave his home "without permission," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei would not confirm that Ai was under house arrest. However, he said a requirement that Weiwei not leave home "without permission" was part of the bail conditions.

"During this period, Ai Weiwei is still under investigation. Without permission, he is not allowed to leave the place that he is living," Hong was quoted as saying by AFP. "He should answer the summons of the court in a timely manner ... without destroying the evidence."

Ai was released after reportedly making a confession to tax evasion allegations and because he was suffering from a chronic disease, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.

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"I am on probation, and under those rules, I can't say much. But I am together with my family now, so all I can say is thank you," Ai told The (London) Times following his release.

He also thanked friends for their support and praised the artists who campaigned for his release.

Ai was arrested in Beijing on April 3 for unspecified "economic crimes." The 54 year old was detained at Beijing's airport just before he was due to board a flight to Hong Kong.

Xinhua reported that Ai offered to repay the taxes and that he would be released because of "his good attitude in confessing his crimes."

Chinese authorities alleged that a company that handled Ai's financial affairs intentionally destroyed accounting documents and that Ai evaded "a huge amount" of tax through the company.

Asked about the effect of international pressure on China to release Ai, Hong said, "China is a country under the rule of law. We hope the relevant countries respect China's judicial sovereignty."

Ai is a well-known international artist and a prominent critic of Chinese censorship. He helped design the Bird's Nest stadium for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and has exhibited his work around the world, including in Britain's Tate Modern gallery.