BEIJING: A pastor in a Chinese province where authorities have been cracking down on churches has been charged with embezzling funds, a Christian rights group said. China’s state-sanctioned Protestant church body announced a week earlier than Gu Yuese was under investigation for suspected misappropriation of funds and other unspecified economic crimes. US-based Christian rights group ChinaAid said in an email that Gu was formally arrested and charged Saturday by prosecutors in Hangzhou city in Zhejiang province. He has been in detention since January 28. Its founder Bob Fu blamed Chinese authorities for engaging in “political retribution” for Gu’s public opposition to a campaign by officials in Zhejiang to forcibly remove hundreds of rooftop crosses from churches. ChinaAid said that in letters to his lawyers, Gu had urged the congregation at the Chongyi Christian Church where he was senior pastor to support his government-appointed replacement, Zhang Zhongcheng, and to remain calm by not “rallying around” for his case.