UK Trial: Spies in Plain Sight

0:00This is Cory, and here's what's making news across the globe right now. Two men are on trial at the Old Bailey in London for running a secret surveillance operation targeting Chinese dissidents in the UK. Chi Long-Wai, a 38-year-old UK Border Force officer, and Chung-B-U-N, a 65-year-old retired Hong Kong police officer, face. Charges under the National Security Act. Prosecutors say they assisted a foreign intelligence service and interfered in UK affairs, with why also accused of misconduct in public office. The operation stretched from Hong Kong to British soil, using ways access to home office databases and its private security firm. UN, based at Hong Kong's economic office in London, allegedly directed tasks like filming pro-democracy activists and asylum seekers. They treated UK towns like extensions of Hong Kong control, all without British authorities knowing. Targets included people like Monica Kwong, who fled Hong Kong fraud charges she called a setup. The group surveilled her home in Pontifract, Yorkshire, knocking on doors and filming her family.

1:04This shocked observers, highlighting risk to exile seeking safety in Britain. Later developments involved way recruiting colleague Matthew Tricket, a former Royal Marine, with his own security business. Tricket assembled a team for more checks on Kwong's flat, including fake maintenance visits and attempts to enter. He was later charged but found dead in May after release on bail. Both defendants deny the charges, and the trial is set to run six or seven weeks. It underscores tensions over foreign influence on UK residents, with more details expected in court. D&N is sponsored by our partner. Check out the episode description. A pillow that sounds as good as it feels, built for listening in bed, S-O-L-I, solelypellow.com.