A former Chinese engineer has been sentenced to death for leaking state secrets to a foreign intelligence agency, Beijing's Ministry of State Security announced on Wednesday. The individual, identified only by his surname, Liu, was accused of copying, duplicating, and selling a substantial amount of classified information.
Liu, previously an assistant engineer at a research institute, resigned after believing he was treated unfairly. However, before leaving, he secretly copied and retained classified materials, intending to use them for personal leverage or retaliation. Financial difficulties from failed investments led him to sell the sensitive data to a foreign intelligence agency, which later cut off contact after obtaining the information at a low price.
Undeterred, Liu continued his espionage activities, traveling through multiple countries over six months, further compromising China's national security. Following an extensive investigation, he was sentenced to death. Authorities have not disclosed details about the research institute involved or the specific foreign agency that obtained the information.
China has intensified its warnings against foreign espionage, with the government under President Xi Jinping reinforcing national security measures. The Ministry of State Security frequently reports cases of individuals allegedly recruited by foreign intelligence agencies, including recent warnings about spies using romantic enticements to gather information.
China does not publicly disclose its execution figures, but rights groups, including Amnesty International, estimate that thousands of people are executed annually.
Source: AFP/ The Star
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
