Rape charges

Song Jingsong, 43, deputy director of Guangdong Urban and Rural Planning and Design Institute, was accused of raping a college student tour guide assigned to his group when they visited Melbourne three months ago, an Australian newspaper reported Thursday.

According to the report, Song was granted bail in August, on condition that he must relinquish his passport and is requested to report to police in Melbourne daily.

Song went on trial Thursday in a Melbourne court where he also applied for changing his bail so he can return to China. He asked to report daily to authorities in Guangzhou and return once a month to Victoria state in Australia, said the report.

However, a senior Australian police official opposed Song's application, arguing that the police couldn't bring him back if he violated the bail conditions because China and Australia have no extradition agreement. Song's hearing was extended to next week.