TMZ is reporting that UCLA has summoned the help from some Chinese officials and citizens in high places to help secure the release of the three men's basketball team which includes LiAngelo Ball. UCLA is a popular destination for Chinese students looking to study in the United States with the school producing top medical researchers, as well as UCLA sports, becoming popular among the Chinese. TMZ was also told that Jack Ma, founder of the online shopping site Alibaba who is worth roughly $40B will also be joining the efforts to see the three players released. Quick note, the UCLA Men's Basketball team just spent time touring the Alibaba headquarters just a day or two before the arrest.
Sources say that the players unequivocally stole sunglasses out of Louis Vuitton so the defense is not attempting to prove their innocence, rather they are negotiating the best deal possible to get the players back to the States without any jail time. As one source noted, "UCLA and Ma are pulling out all the political stops to resolve this."
Source: tmz.com
