New Charges Laid Against Former Hydro-Québec Worker Accused of Spying for China

Defence lawer Gary Martin, left, representing Yuesheng Wang, and Crown Prosecutor Marc Cigana speak to the media after a hearing at the courthouse in Longueuil, Quebec on Nov. 15, 2022. Hydro Quebec employee Yuesheng Wang is charged with economic espionage related offences. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

A former Hydro-Québec employee previously accused of spying for China is now facing two additional charges, the RCMP says.

Yuesheng Wang was arrested in November 2022 and previously charged with four espionage-related offences, including obtaining trade secrets, fraudulently obtaining a trade secret, breach of trust, and unauthorized use of a computer.

Mr. Wang, who had worked as a researcher on battery materials with Hydro-Québec’s Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage, became the first individual charged with economic espionage under Canada’s Security of Information Act.

On Feb. 7, the RCMP said that Mr. Wang is facing additional charges under the act, with two counts related to committing preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity.

“While employed by Hydro-Québec, Mr. Wang allegedly obtained trade secrets to benefit the People’s Republic of China, to the detriment of Canada’s economic interests,” the federal police force said in a release that was updated on Feb. 7.

Police allege that Mr. Wang leveraged his position to conduct research for a Chinese university and other research centres in China. Additionally, he is accused of publishing scientific articles and filing patents in collaboration with a foreign entity, rather than with Hydro-Québec.

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Shortly after his arrest, Mr. Wang was granted bail on Nov. 28, 2022. He was released under several conditions, including that he surrender his passport, carry a cellphone at all times for location-tracking purposes, and allow his two properties to be used as collateral in case he attempts to flee the country.

Federal prosecutor Marc Cigana had initially opposed Mr. Wang’s release, citing concerns about the potential for the Chinese national to flee from Canada. Mr. Wang, who has denied the allegations, refuted being a flight risk and said that he will remain in the country to fight the charges.

He is scheduled to return to court in Longueuil, Que., on April 5.

Mr. Wang, a resident of Montreal’s suburb, Candiac, became the subject of an investigation by Public Safety Canada’s counter-foreign interference unit, the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, in August 2022 following a complaint from Hydro-Québec’s corporate security branch.

Hydro-Québec said it has worked with RCMP on the investigation of Mr. Wang’s activities.

The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Wang’s lawyer for comment, but didn’t immediately hear back.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.