A UK Border Force officer and a Hong Kong trade official based in London have been jailed for spying for China in the first such conviction in British criminal history. Peter Wai, who conducted “shadow policing” operations on Chinese dissidents in the UK, was sentenced to 10 years, while his handler, Bill Yuen, received an eight-year term. After a two-month trial at the Old Bailey, the pair were convicted under the National Security Act of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Wai, 41, a Border Force officer at Heathrow airport who…
Tag: Crime
Murrell used false accounting and fake invoices to hide SNP embezzlement, court hears – UK politics live
From 2h ago Murrell used false accounting records and fake invoices to cover up his embezzlement, court told The money embezzled by Peter Murrell came from SNP membership fees and donations by party members, the Edinburgh court was told. The Press Association report: double quotation markAlan Cameron KC told the high court in Edinburgh that the former SNP chief executive had embezzled the funds from SNP party bank accounts “over which he had control”. He went on: “The accused made direct transfers of money and used his party charge card…
Two men first in British history to be found guilty of spying for China
A UK Border Force officer and Hong Kong trade official based in London have been found guilty of spying for China and surveilling dissidents through a “shadow policing” operation. Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 65, also known as Bill, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of assisting a foreign intelligence service, making them the first people in British history to be convicted of spying for China. Wai, who worked for Border Force at Heathrow airport and volunteered as a City of London special constable, was…
The best of the long read in 2025
Victor Pelevin made his name in 90s Russia with scathing satires of authoritarianism. But while his literary peers have faced censorship and fled the country, he still sells millions. Has he become a Kremlin apologist? At 18, Mustafa was told his only way out of prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his past as one of Assad’s fighters could get him killed When fossilised remains were discovered in the Djurab desert in 2001, they were hailed as radically rewriting the history of our species. But not…
OBR says it raised concerns with Treasury about pre-budget briefings – UK politics live
From 1h ago OBR raised concerns with Treasury about pre-budget leaking before budget took place, MPs told Hillier started by asking about the letter sent by the OBR to the Commons Treasury committee on Friday explaining what the OBR told the Treasury in the run up to the budget about its forecasts. Prof David Miles said the OBR decided to send the letter because there were a lot of misconceptions about the role played by the OBR this time. He said the letter was meant to be published on budget…
London businessman jailed for life after filming his sex attacks on women
Chao Xu, 33, may be one of worst sex offenders in British criminal history, police fear A businessman has been jailed for life for drugging women then subjecting them to sexual attacks which he recorded for his pleasure, as well as committing hundreds of other sexual offences. The judge said Chao Xu’s offending was “calculated and planned” and he posed a high risk to women. Continue reading… The Guardian
Why MPs prefer conspiracy theory over cock-up in China spy case row | John Crace
It’s all as clear as mud. If Keir Starmer thought that releasing the three witness statements of the deputy national security adviser (DNSA) Matthew Collins late on Wednesday night was going to make the China spy case row go away, then he was in for a big disappointment. There was no way MPs were going to let a story like this out of their clutches. This was their moment to take centre stage. When they could bathe in their own importance. When they could believe that they and national security…
Woman admits UK bitcoin fraud charges after ‘world’s largest’ crypto seizure
A woman has been convicted for her role in a multibillion-pound bitcoin fraud after what is thought to have been the world’s largest cryptocurrency seizure. Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, 45, orchestrated a fraud in China between 2014 and 2017 that left 128,000 people out of pocket. She stored the proceeds in bitcoin, but UK authorities made a breakthrough in the case when they raided a Hampstead mansion in 2018 and seized devices from Qian holding 61,000 bitcoins, worth more than £5bn at current prices. The Metropolitan police…
Chinese carmakers told to improve locking devices for UK market
British authorities may have well-founded concerns about the cyber-spying threat from vehicles made in China, but it turns out the country’s manufacturers have security worries of their own. Insurers have told Chinese carmakers they need certain critical modifications for vehicles on British streets: namely, tougher locking devices to make them harder to steal. With an average of 11 reported vehicle thefts an hour in the UK, and car crime comparatively rare under Beijing’s strict authoritarian regime, industry sources said it had been a “swift learning curve”. Additions to cars exported…
Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou facing second trial as more women come forward
Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou is facing a second trial with police and prosecutors preparing to charge the Chinese student with a second round of offences. Zou, 28, is already serving a minimum 24 years for attacking 10 young women in London and China. Sources say there have been discussions between detectives and lawyers for the Crown Prosecution Service about at least one more trial for the Chinese student. Zou was sentenced on Thursday to life imprisonment, even offering to be chemically castrated in hopes of getting a lighter sentence. Since…