China sentences three for spying for Russia

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 8

China sentences three for spying for Russia

NZPA Peking Three men convicted of spying in China have been sentenced respectively to death, death with a two-year reprieve, and seven years in prison for engaging in w espionage for the ■ Soviet Union. The trials, which were open to the public, marked the first time since 1974 that China had mentioned any Soviet-relaced spying incidents. The Soviet Embassy had no immediate comment on the sentences, which observers noted were announced on the first day of competition at the Olympic Games in Moscow. China is boycotting the Games in protest at the So-

viet intervention in Afghanistan. Wang Jiasheng, aged 36, was sentenced to death at Mudangjiang, iri Heilongjiang province, north-eastern China, adjacent .to the Soviet border, the official New China News Agency reported, noting that three separate courts sentenced the mem Norrnally, death sentences are carried out immediately in China, although the agency did not confirm that Wang had been executed. Wang, of Han nationality (ethnic Chinese), pleaded guilty to having shot and killed a police officer in July, 1979, as he was trying to escape, according to the agency. '

The Chinese press announced that Qin Yedong, the police officer, received posthumous honours. Zhu Youhuai, whose age was not available, received the death sentence with two years’ delay from another court in Heilongjiang province. He will escape execution if his behaviour is considered suitable during the t w o-y ear probationary period. The agency report gave few details on his case, but identified him as “another Soviet spy.” The agency provided a number of details, however, on the case of Nicolai Petrovich Zhang, aged 36, sentenced to seven years in prison by the Heihe, Heilongjiang province, court.