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US court jails 'agent of China' US court jails 'agent of China'
(about 11 hours later)
A Chinese-born engineer found guilty last year of conspiring to export sensitive US defence technology to China has been sentenced to 24.5 years. A Chinese-born engineer found guilty last year of conspiring to export sensitive US defence technology to China has been jailed for 24.5 years.
The court in California had also convicted Chi Mak, 67, of acting as a foreign agent and of making false statements to federal agents.The court in California had also convicted Chi Mak, 67, of acting as a foreign agent and of making false statements to federal agents.
Mak had worked on submarine propulsion systems for defence contractor Power Paragon in Anaheim.Mak had worked on submarine propulsion systems for defence contractor Power Paragon in Anaheim.
The FBI found defence CDs in luggage of Mak's relatives at Los Angeles airport.The FBI found defence CDs in luggage of Mak's relatives at Los Angeles airport.
Prosecutors had alleged that Mak gave thousands of documents to his brother, who handed them to Chinese authorities.Prosecutors had alleged that Mak gave thousands of documents to his brother, who handed them to Chinese authorities.
Four of Chi Mak's relatives pleaded guilty to related offences last year.
Hong Kong flightHong Kong flight
Mak said during last year's six-week trial that he copied sensitive documents from Power Paragon and kept copies in his office. Mak, a naturalised US citizen, said during last year's six-week trial that he copied sensitive documents from Power Paragon and kept copies in his office.
Mak, a naturalised US citizen, said he had not realised at the time that making copies was illegal. A high-end... sentence will provide a strong deterrent to the PRC (China) not to send its agents here to steal American military secrets Judge Cormac Carney
Mak was arrested in October 2005 in Los Angeles after FBI agents stopped his brother and sister-in-law as they boarded a flight to Hong Kong. He said he had not realised at the time that making copies was illegal.
He was arrested in October 2005 in Los Angeles after FBI agents stopped his brother and sister-in-law as they boarded a flight to Hong Kong.
Investigators said they found three encrypted CDs in their luggage that contained documents including one on a propulsion system that could make submarines virtually undetectable.Investigators said they found three encrypted CDs in their luggage that contained documents including one on a propulsion system that could make submarines virtually undetectable.
Mak had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was not formally charged with espionage as the information was not officially deemed to be classified.Mak had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was not formally charged with espionage as the information was not officially deemed to be classified.
Mak sought a new trial this year but his request was turned down. US District Judge Cormac Carney also fined him $50,000 (£25,000).
"We will never know the full extent of the damage that Mr Mak has done to our national security," he wrote in a sentencing statement.
"A high-end... sentence will provide a strong deterrent to the PRC [People's Republic of China] not to send its agents here to steal American military secrets," the judge added.