The former Hydro-Quebec researcher accused of economic espionage was able to regain his freedom pending trial on Monday, after two weeks of preventive detention in a Quebec prison. However, he will have to keep a smart phone with him at all times allowing the police to geolocate him.
Yuesheng Wang, a Chinese citizen who had been recruited in 2016 by Hydro-Québec to work on the development of technologies related to new generations of batteries, had been arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on November 14, 12 days after his dismissal by the state corporation.
He is charged with unauthorized use of a computer, fraud for obtaining trade secrets, breach of trust by a public official and an offense relating to obtaining trade secrets “for the benefit of the Republic”. People’s Republic of China” and “to the detriment of Canada’s economic interests.
After two days of hearings at the Longueuil courthouse, Judge Marco LaBrie agreed to release the accused for further proceedings, while imposing on him compliance with a long series of conditions.
No zero risk
Mr. Wang will notably have to take out a judicial mortgage of $200,000 on his two real estate properties as security. His girlfriend will have to post $1,000 bail. He must reside at his house in Candiac, not change his address without authorization, appear in court when required, surrender his Chinese passport to the authorities, not request a new travel document and report once a week to the district. General of the RCMP in Westmount.
Above all, he will have to keep with him at all times a functional smartphone allowing the police to geolocate him. He will also have to avoid any contact with representatives of the Chinese government, except with the diplomatic representatives of his country within the framework of his defense.
“The court is aware that zero risk does not exist. However, this release plan […] is able to guarantee the presence of Mr. Wang for the rest of the proceedings until the holding of his trial”, explained the judge.
Heavy penalty if found guilty
As the decision was read, the accused listened to an interpreter, often keeping his head down, his back bent, staring at the floor.
“The charges are serious and Mr. Wang faces a long prison term if convicted,” the judge said, citing a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
The magistrate pointed out that the accused denies the offenses and provides explanations for all transfers of secret information detected by the police. “Mr. Wang chose to testify during the hearing when he had the right to remain silent,” observed the judge.
At this stage of the case, “the court finds it difficult to rule on the likelihood of conviction”, he continued.