A former Hydro-Québec employee accused of spying for China is facing new charges, according to the RCMP. Yuesheng Wang, who was arrested in November 2022, was initially charged with four espionage-related offences. These included 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 announced that Mr. Wang is facing additional charges under the act, with two counts related to committing preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity. According to the federal police force, Mr. Wang allegedly obtained trade secrets to benefit the People’s Republic of China, to the detriment of Canada’s economic interests. Police also allege that Mr. Wang leveraged his position to conduct research for a Chinese university and other research centers in China. Additionally, he is accused of publishing scientific articles and filing patents in collaboration with a foreign entity, rather than with Hydro-Québec.
Shortly after his arrest, Mr. Wang was granted bail. However, 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 to prevent him from fleeing 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 has stated that it has worked with the 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)