Chiniese dissident artist Ai Weiwei told the media that he paid 8.45 million yuan ($1.3 million) bond to the government towards the sudden tax debt that his wife’s company, Fake Cultural, Ltd., owes.
Ai told CNN in a phone interview that if he and his wife cannot pay the bond, then she could be thrown in to jail. The government claims that they owe 15 million yuan ($2.3 million) in taxes.
Since the Chinese government began going after Ai earlier this month, donations he said donations came pouring in, as people tried to help him pay it off.
In a separate interview with The BBC, Ai said that if he could not post the bond on time, then he would not be able to appeal the debt. “If we missed this deadline they said they could turn the case over to the police," he said. In the interview, Ai also says that he will try to pay back those who donated to his cause.
Earlier this year, Ai was detained by the Chinese government for nearly three months on tax evasion. He was eventually released in June on bail because of good behavior and medical concerns.
"China always uses tax issues to cover up political issues. If the government keeps taking revenge on its dissidents with the law, it will only lead the country to its opposite side," Ai told CNN.
Ai is best known for designing the ‘Birds Nest’ stadium for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. He has also had exhibitions of his work all over the world.