Court holds bail hearing for ex-Hydro-Quebec employee accused of selling secrets to China
A former Hydro-Quebec employee charged with economic espionage for the benefit of China was in court again Wednesday for a bail hearing.
On the first of the two-day hearing at the Longueuil, Que. courthouse, attorneys took turns questioning witnesses, trying to determine the likelihood that 35-year-old Yuesheng Wang, if released, would leave the country before standing trial.
Prosecutor Marc Cigana argued in court that he believes Wang is a flight risk.
"One: He's not a Canadian citizen. Two: He's not even a permanent resident of Canada. He's not a landed immigrant, although he applied. He was here on a visa, a work permit specifically to work for Hydro-Quebec," he said.
For years, Wang worked on electric vehicle battery materials at Hydro-Quebec's Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage in the off-island Montreal suburb of Varennes.
The Crown alleges he used his access to conduct research for a Chinese university and another Chinese research facility. The RCMP arrested Wang on Nov. 14 at his home in Candiac. He faces charges of obtaining trade secrets, unauthorized use of a computer, fraud for obtaining trade secrets and breach of trust by a public officer.
"We have evidence sufficient to charge him that he stole industrial secrets from Hydro. Hydro is the main victim, apart from the Canadian public in general. So the very company he was supposed to work for, he stole industrial secrets from, and he's not a citizen of the country," said Cigana.
For that reason, the Crown has asked the judge not to grant Wang bail.
Defence attorney Gary Martin argues if Wang wanted to leave the country, he likely would have after he was fired by Hydro-Quebec, 12 days before his arrest.
"He could've easily slipped away, but he didn't," said Martin. "Like I asked the court, did he put his house for sale or show any plans to buy or purchase travel tickets, flight tickets or anything like that?"
The process is delayed because the defendant requires a French-to-Mandarin translator.
The court will reconvene for the second day of hearings Thursday, when the judge will decide whether to set bail.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.