Suspected Hydro-Québec spy seeking bail

Longueuil, Quay. –

A former Quebec utility employee charged with economic espionage for China’s interests said at a bail hearing today that he wants to stay in Canada to clear his name.

It’s the second day of Yueshen Wang’s bail hearing at a court in Longueuil, Quebec, south of Montreal.

The 35-year-old man has been in custody since his November 14 arrest by the RCMP and federal prosecutors are opposing his release because they believe he is a flight risk.

Wang, a resident of Kandiac, south of Montreal, was the first person to be charged with economic espionage under Canada’s Information Security Act, and was charged with computer misuse, fraudulent acquisition, and criminal charges. It also faces three indictments. Violations of Trade Secrets and Trust.

The RCMP alleges that former Hydro-Québec employees provided information about utilities to Chinese universities and Chinese research centers, published scientific papers, and filed patents against them, not the utilities.

Police also allege that Wang used the information without his employer’s consent and violated Hydro-Québec’s intellectual property.

This report by the Canadian Press was first published on November 23, 2022.