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🇸🇬 Singapore /Crime & Justice

Two jailed in Britain for spying for China

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Two men were jailed in Britain for spying for China, marking the first such convictions in the UK.
  • Chung Biu Yuen, 66, and Chi Leung Wai, 41, both worked for the UK Border Force and were convicted of surveillance on pro-democracy dissidents.
  • The judge highlighted the increasing threat of foreign state actors targeting dissidents and those seeking protection in the UK.

Two men have been sentenced to prison in Britain for spying on pro-democracy dissidents on behalf of Hong Kong and China. Chung Biu Yuen, 66, and Chi Leung Wai, 41, both employed by the UK Border Force, were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service through surveillance activities conducted between December 2023 and May 2024.

The United Kingdom now faces persistent, adaptive, and often clandestine interference by foreign state actors and those acting on their behalf.

— Judge Bobbie Cheema-GrubbIn her sentencing remarks at London's Old Bailey court.

Wai was also convicted of misusing his position to access the interior ministry's computer database for information on targets. The men, who held dual Chinese and British nationality, denied the charges. The Chinese embassy in London dismissed the case as a political maneuver.

Modern foreign intelligence activity is not confined to orthodox espionage against military or governmental secrets. It may take the form of surveillance, information gathering, intimidation, and targeting of dissidents and those who have sought the protection of this country's laws.

— Judge Bobbie Cheema-GrubbIn her sentencing remarks at London's Old Bailey court.

During sentencing at London's Old Bailey court, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb emphasized the persistent and clandestine interference by foreign state actors in the UK. She noted that modern espionage extends beyond traditional targets to include surveillance, intimidation, and the targeting of dissidents.

The activity of Wai and Yuen was truly chilling.

— Commander Helen FlanaganHead of counter terrorism policing in London, commenting on the case.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in London, described the men's actions as "truly chilling," stating they were spying on individuals protesting the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. Yuen received an eight-year sentence, while Wai was sentenced to 10 years.

They were spying and targeting individuals in the UK who were pro-democracy campaigners and were simply protesting against the Hong Kong and Chinese government and authorities.

— Commander Helen FlanaganHead of counter terrorism policing in London, commenting on the case.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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