Sweden charges man with spying on Tibetans for Beijing

Swedish authorities said yesterday they have charged a man with spying for China, on suspicion that he gathered information on Tibetans who had fled to Sweden.

The man, a Tibetan who worked for the pro-Tibetan radio station “Voice of Tibet,” was charged with “gross illegal intelligence activity.” If found guilty, he faces sentences of up to four years in jail.

Daniel Stenling of Sweden’s security service SAPO said the man, who was not identified, was arrested Feb. 26. The security service said it had observed the man for some time, saying he gathered information among Tibetans in Sweden then handed them over to an intelligence officer from an unidentified “foreign nation.”

Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said the information included personal matters, ranging from where people lived and family relations to political activities, trips and meetings.

“This is a very serious crime because spying affects very vulnerable people,” said Ljungqvist, adding that refugees “must be able to feel confident that they can freely use their constitutional freedoms, for example to protest against a regime without risking persecution or other abuse.”

Ljungqvist told Swedish broadcaster SVT the suspect had been in contact with Chinese officials in Poland and Finland. He reportedly said the man received 50,000 kronor (USD6,000) on at least one occasion and had his expenses paid.

The prosecutor was not immediately available for comments. The suspect’s lawyer, Mikael Soderberg, told The Associated Press his client denies the charges.

“It is shocking news to us that China is spying on us,” Jamyang Choedon, the president of Tibetan Community in Sweden, told the AP. “This is not acceptable.”

“We have heard it is happening but now we might have a case,” Choedon said, adding that to her knowledge “this is the first time it’s been officially investigated.”

She said the Tibetan community in Sweden included some 140 people, including children. “We all know each other. I know him.”

The case comes at a time when relations between Stockholm and Beijing are tense.

China is holding a Chinese-born Swedish national on suspicion of leaking state secrets and has rebuked Sweden for demanding his release.

Hong Kong-based bookseller Gui Minhai, 53, was taken off a train by police on Jan. 20 while in the presence of two Swedish diplomats with whom he was traveling to Beijing. AP