Spavor was found guilty of espionage and illegally sharing state secrets. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison,” said a statement issued by the court in Dandong City.
Chinese authorities will also confiscate assets totaling more than $7,700.
The penalty is for two years After the arrest of Michael Spavor.
to me Bloomberg He further stated that Spavor would be fired. It is not clear whether this will happen before or after the sentence has expired.
“We condemn the decision,” said Dominic Barton, Canada’s ambassador to China.
The statement was delivered to reporters outside the court on Wednesday.
– There is a chance to appeal. This is something he wants to talk to his lawyer about, Barton added.
The ambassador also conveyed three messages from Michael Spavor. The two spoke together after the verdict.
– First, thank you for all the support, it means a lot to me. “Two, I’m in good spirits, and three, I want to go home,” Barton told reporters on behalf of Spavor.
Writes CNN.
Response to the spy: Canada’s ambassador to China, Dominic Barton, responds forcefully to the spy. Here he was filmed in Dandong right after the sentencing.
Photo: NOEL CELIS / AFP
difficult relationship
Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, is also accused of similar crimes. The cases have led to a very strained relationship between Canada and China.
The trial took place behind closed doors. Canadians are very concerned about the lack of transparency.
Defender: Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, is also accused of crimes similar to Spavor.
Photo: AP
Both Spavor and Kovrig were arrested shortly after Chinese Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada in December 2018. The Canadian authorities therefore believe this is a matter of retaliation.
Requires release: Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou has been arrested in Canada. The United States had accused her of fraud and violating US sanctions against Iran.
Photo: Jennifer Guthier/Reuters
The trials against the Canadians were extremely short. In both cases, diplomats from a number of countries went to Dandong. Jim Nickell, Chargé d’Affairs at the Canadian Embassy in China, referred to this as a gesture of solidarity. Many gathered again in Beijing on Wednesday.
An appeal against the death sentence was dismissed
On Tuesday, a Chinese court rejected the appeal of Canadian Robert Schellenberg, who was sentenced to death in a drug case. Canada also condemns this ruling.
Schellenberg was sentenced to prison in 2018 for drug smuggling. He was surprisingly convicted again in January 2019. The punishment was whittled down to the death penalty.
It happened at a time when the Chinese authorities were trying to pressure Canada to release Meng Wanzhou. She was arrested in Canada because the US charged her with fraud and violating US sanctions against Iran.
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