Chinese Court Sentences Canadian Michael Spavor to 11 Years in Prison For Spying

Two Canadian nationals, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, were detained in China in 2018 after the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, that took place in Vancouver, Canada.

On early Wednesday, a Canadian citizen, Michael Spavor, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Chinese court, which found him guilty of "spying overseas" and illegally providing state secrets to other countries.

The Dandong court also ruled that Spavor's assets, worth 50,000 yuan (some 7714$), will be confiscated, and he will be deported. The court ruling did not specify when that deportation will take place.

The Chinese court's decision was criticized by the Canadian ambassador to China, Dominic Barton.

"We condemn that decision," Dominic Barton told reporters. "There is the opportunity for an appeal. That's something that he [Spavor] will talk with his lawyers about."

Spavor, along with another Canadian citizen, Michael Kovrig, was detained in China in 2018 following the arrest of Huawei's CFO Meng Wanzhou, who is currently facing possible extradition to the United States, accused of sanctions violations.

Ottawa condemned the arrest of the two Canadians, which is seen in Canada as an act of retaliation for Wanzhou arrest, saying they were "arbitrarily detained". Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau said that the release of Spavor and Kovrig remains a "top priority" for Ottawa.

The decision on Spavor comes a day after a Chinese court upheld the death penalty for Canadian Robert Schellenberg for drug smuggling - a move also condemned by Canada and the European Union.

The trial date for Kovrig, who also faces espionage charges, has not been released.

Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves court on a lunch break in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada March 15, 2021.

© REUTERS / JENNIFER GAUTHIER

Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver in December 2018, with the US Justice Department alleging that Huawei CFO was involved in fraud, having misled banking giant HSBC into approving more than $100 million in transactions that breached American sanctions imposed on Iran.

Beijing denounced her arrest as an effort by Washington to hamper the development of Chinese technologies, and demanded Wanzhou's immediate release.

Final arguments on Wanzhou's extradition case are expected to be wrapped on 20 August, with the judge deciding whether to send her to the US to face trial.