In a recent disclosure by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa), it has been revealed that a British national, identified as Ian J Stones, was sentenced to a five-year jail term in 2022 for engaging in the "crime of illegally obtaining intelligence for overseas actors." Stones, who reportedly spent four decades working in China with major U.S. corporations such as General Motors and Pfizer, and is estimated to be around 70 years old, had established an investment management consulting firm in Beijing about 15 years ago, as per corporate records and sources familiar with him.
The Mofa spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, stated that Stones had appealed the sentencing, but the verdict was upheld in September of the same year. The revelation came during a Mofa briefing on Friday. Wang emphasized that the court had conducted the trial strictly in accordance with the law, asserting that Beijing had ensured the protection of Stones' legitimate rights and facilitated visits by British officials to attend his trial.
Stones' daughter, as reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), mentioned that embassy officials and one family member were allowed to witness a hearing but were not permitted to attend the actual trial. She further asserted that none of them had access to the legal documents related to the case. According to her, Stones, who was reportedly healthy at the start of his detention, suffered from inconsistent medical care and poor nutrition, resulting in severe and life-threatening injuries.
Wang, in a statement, detailed that Stones was accused of accepting bribes to provide intelligence to external forces. He emphasized the adherence of judicial organs to handle cases in accordance with the law, protecting the rights of both Chinese nationals and foreigners. This revelation coincides with China's increasing publicity of cases involving alleged espionage by Western countries. Beijing has launched public awareness campaigns regarding foreign spying and encouraged citizens to report any suspicious activities.
Earlier this month, Chinese authorities claimed to have detained an individual allegedly spying for Britain's foreign intelligence service, MI6. However, the BBC could not independently verify these claims, and the UK government maintains its policy of neither confirming nor denying intelligence-related assertions.
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