Posted on Aug 11, 2021
Michael Spavor: Canadian jailed for 11 years in China on spying charges
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A court in China has convicted a Canadian businessman of espionage and sentenced him to 11 years in prison.
Michael Spavor has been detained since 2018, after being arrested with fellow Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig.
The verdict will test a strained relationship between the Canadian and Chinese governments.
It comes as an extradition battle involving Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei, takes place in Canada.
Critics have accused China of treating both Spavor and Kovrig as political bargaining chips, held as part of what is known as "hostage diplomacy".
In a statement published on Wednesday, the Dandong court said: "For the crime of spying and illegal provision of state secrets abroad [Spavor] has been sentenced to 11 years in jail, confiscation of 50,000 yuan ($7,715: £5,578) worth of personal property and deportation."
Michael Spavor has been detained since 2018, after being arrested with fellow Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig.
The verdict will test a strained relationship between the Canadian and Chinese governments.
It comes as an extradition battle involving Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei, takes place in Canada.
Critics have accused China of treating both Spavor and Kovrig as political bargaining chips, held as part of what is known as "hostage diplomacy".
In a statement published on Wednesday, the Dandong court said: "For the crime of spying and illegal provision of state secrets abroad [Spavor] has been sentenced to 11 years in jail, confiscation of 50,000 yuan ($7,715: £5,578) worth of personal property and deportation."
Michael Spavor: Canadian jailed for 11 years in China on spying charges
Posted from bbc.com
China
Spying
Canada
Diplomacy
Posted >1 y ago
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