U.S citizen John Shing-Wan Leung
‘Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was convicted on Monday by the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou’
The U.S. authorities have confirmed the conviction and life imprisonment of the 78-year-old U.S. citizen, John Shing-Wan Leung, by Chinese court for spying.
Leung, who is also a Hong Kong permanent resident, was convicted on Monday by the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement on the court’s social media account.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing told CNN on Monday that it was aware of reports of Leung’s sentencing.
“The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said in a statement to CNN.
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Leung was detained on April 15, 2021 by state security authorities in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, according to the brief statement, which did not provide details on his charges.
The court also confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,797), the statement added.
Chinese authorities and state media have not previously disclosed any information on Leung’s detention or the court process that led to his conviction.
Cases involving state security are usually strictly handled behind closed doors, where the judicial system has a conviction rate of around 99%, according to legal observers.
The relationship between the two countries is getting worse by day.
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