A Chinese court sentenced a 78-year-old US citizen to life in jail for espionage on Monday, but released little details about the previously unknown case.
According to a post on the court's social media account, John Shing-Wan Leung, a Hong Kong permanent resident, was convicted of espionage and sentenced to life in prison Monday by the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou.
According to the brief statement, Leung was seized by state security officers on April 15, 2021 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, for unknown reasons.
Leung, “was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life,” said a statement from the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou.
Suzhou authorities “took compulsory measures according to the law” against 78-year-old Leung in April 2021, it said, without specifying when he had been taken into custody.
The court also confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,797), the statement added.
However, it was unclear where Leung had been living at the time of his arrest.
Chinese authorities and official media had previously withheld any details on Leung's detention or the legal process that led to his conviction.
According to a representative for the US embassy in Beijing, they were aware of allegations that a US citizen had just been convicted and sentenced in Suzhou.
“The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
According to legal observers, the court announcement provided no additional specifics on the allegations, and closed door trials are common in China for sensitive matters involving state security, where the judicial system has a conviction rate of approximately 99%.
According to a post on the court's social media account, John Shing-Wan Leung, a Hong Kong permanent resident, was convicted of espionage and sentenced to life in prison Monday by the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Suzhou.
According to the brief statement, Leung was seized by state security officers on April 15, 2021 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, for unknown reasons.
Leung, “was found guilty of espionage, sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life,” said a statement from the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou.
Suzhou authorities “took compulsory measures according to the law” against 78-year-old Leung in April 2021, it said, without specifying when he had been taken into custody.
The court also confiscated personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,797), the statement added.
However, it was unclear where Leung had been living at the time of his arrest.
Chinese authorities and official media had previously withheld any details on Leung's detention or the legal process that led to his conviction.
According to a representative for the US embassy in Beijing, they were aware of allegations that a US citizen had just been convicted and sentenced in Suzhou.
“The Department of State has no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
According to legal observers, the court announcement provided no additional specifics on the allegations, and closed door trials are common in China for sensitive matters involving state security, where the judicial system has a conviction rate of approximately 99%.
