A high-ranking official in New York is suspected of having spied on behalf of China and is said to have, among other things, leaked information about covid-19 to the Chinese state. According to the indictment, Linda Sun has been able to enjoy a lavish lifestyle with luxury cars, houses in Honolulu and home deliveries of blasted duck while acting in China’s interests, reports BBC.
Sun reportedly made his career in New York state government, rising to the position of deputy chief of staff to the governor, Kathy Hochul.
Federal prosecutors now say she used her role to inform the Chinese state and advance China’s interests. Among other things, diplomats from Taiwan are said to have been prevented from contacting the state government and she is said to have secretly shared internal documents with the Chinese government.
Tried to smooth over the persecution of the Uighurs
For a long time, Sun is said to have actively worked to minimize exposure of the Chinese state’s detention of Uighurs, a mostly Muslim group in Xianjiang province.
Among other things, Sun allegedly confronted the governor’s speechwriter about removing mentions of the “situation with the Uighurs” from a draft of one of the governor’s statements.
At another time, she allegedly secretly added a Chinese government official to a confidential government conversation about public health efforts against the coronavirus, the indictment alleges.
Received millions of dollars in compensation
In return, Linda Sun and her now co-accused husband Christopher Hu allegedly received millions of dollars from the Chinese state. Money that, among other things, went to buy a house in New York for 4.1 million dollars and to special home deliveries of exploded duck.
The indictment claims that the couple was also able to invest in a house with an ocean view in Hawaii and in several luxury cars, including a Ferrari Roma.
Released on bail
The couple were detained on Tuesday but deny any crime on all ten charges. Among other things, the spouses are accused of money laundering, visa violations and not having registered as representatives of a foreign state.
A judge has released the couple on bail and restricted the couple’s freedom of movement to three states. In addition, Sun has been ordered to avoid all contact with representatives from the Chinese consulate in New York.
– We look forward to responding to these claims in court. My client is of course upset to even be accused of these crimes, says Linda Sun’s lawyer Jarrod Schaeffer, according to the AP news agency.