A Canadian national, Michael Spavor, who was detained by the Chinese authorities few days after Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested has commenced trial in the northeastern province of Liaoning for “spying.”
Michael Spavor, who was detained under allegations of stealing state secrets over than two years ago, was tried behind closed doors at the Intermediate People’s Court in Dandong city.
In a statement released on its website after the trial, the court said: “The Dandong Intermediate People’s Court in Liaoning province held the trial behind closed doors of Canadian defendant Michael Spavor, on charges of spying for foreign countries and illegally leaking state secrets.
“Michael Spavor and his defense lawyers appeared in court and participated in the proceedings.”
The statement also revealed the court would pronounce sentence at a later date.
According to information gathered, journalists and diplomats that were sent to observe the trial were denied access to the court.
The court’s entrance was barricadesd with police tape and journalists were kept outside but they were not detained or asked to leave.
According to Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, who was also denied entry to the court, the trial lasted two hours and it ended around 12:00 p.m.
The other Canadian, Michael Kovrig will commence his trial today. Kovrig is facing accusation of acting as a source of information for Spavor.
Chinese State media reported that Kovrig stands accused of using ordinary passport and business visa to enter China “to steal sensitive information and intelligence through contacts in China since 2017.”
According to Global Times, Spavor’s charges hinge on the allegation that he was “a key source of intelligence” for Kovrig.
Kovrig and Spavor were detained days after Huawei Technologies’ Chief Financial Officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested in Vancouver and they stand accused of “stealing and illegally offering state secrets abroad,” and are being locked at an unknown location under “residential surveillance at a designated location.”
They have not been allowed access to a lawyer hired by their families or Canadian embassy, and they have had visits from consular staff only, which have been suspended since the advent of COVID-19.
