Chung Biu “Bill” Yuen, 66, and Chi Leung “Peter” Wai, 41, were found guilty last month of assisting a foreign intelligence service by conducting surveillance on prominent dissidents between December 2023 and May 2024.

Wai, who worked for the UK Border Force, was additionally convicted of abusing his position to access confidential government databases in search of information relating to surveillance targets.

The pair, both dual British and Chinese citizens, denied the allegations throughout the proceedings. Chinese authorities rejected the case, with the Chinese Embassy in London describing it as a politically motivated misuse of legal processes.

At London’s Old Bailey court, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb sentenced Yuen to eight years in prison and Wai to 10 years, emphasizing the broader threat posed by modern foreign intelligence operations.

“The United Kingdom now faces persistent, adaptive, and often clandestine interference by foreign state actors and those acting on their behalf,” the judge said during sentencing.

She noted that contemporary espionage activities increasingly extend beyond the theft of military or state secrets and can include surveillance, intimidation and information gathering directed at political dissidents and individuals who have sought refuge under British law.

According to prosecutors, the defendants monitored prominent pro-democracy campaigners from Hong Kong who had relocated to Britain following political crackdowns in the Chinese territory.

The case forms part of growing concerns among British security agencies about foreign interference activities targeting diaspora communities, political activists and critics of overseas governments living in the United Kingdom.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counterterrorism policing in London, described the conduct of the two men as deeply troubling and said their activities were directed against individuals exercising democratic freedoms.

“The activity of Wai and Yuen was truly chilling,” Flanagan said.

“They were spying and targeting individuals in the UK who were pro-democracy campaigners and were simply protesting against the Hong Kong and Chinese government and authorities.”

Relations between London and Beijing have become increasingly strained in recent years over issues including Hong Kong, national security concerns, allegations of foreign interference and espionage-related investigations.

British authorities have repeatedly warned that foreign intelligence operations are becoming more sophisticated, often focusing on surveillance, influence campaigns and efforts to monitor critics living abroad.

The convictions mark a significant milestone in the United Kingdom’s efforts to counter foreign-state interference and reinforce legal protections for political dissidents residing in the country.

The ministry identified the detainee as Qais Hassan al-Abd al-Rajab, a former brigadier general who previously served as deputy director of the General Intelligence Directorate, also known as State Security.

According to a statement published on the Interior Ministry’s Telegram channel, al-Abd al-Rajab was detained by the Counterterrorism Directorate after what authorities described as extensive tracking operations.

He is accused of involvement in violations against residents of the Damascus countryside, including areas such as Hajar al-Aswad, Daraya and Moadamiyat al-Sham, as well as parts of Daraa province, the ministry said.

Officials said the suspect had attempted to evade arrest prior to his detention, and that investigations are ongoing ahead of legal proceedings and referral to the judiciary.

Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in earlier remarks that security forces continue to pursue individuals accused of crimes committed under the former Assad administration as part of wider accountability efforts.

He added that intelligence and internal security units were conducting surveillance and enforcement operations aimed at bringing suspects before the courts.

The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to investigate alleged abuses committed during the Assad era, including broader transitional justice measures and attempts to document violations against civilians.

Israel’s attorney general’s office said an indictment against Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich would be filed in a Tel Aviv court following a hearing process with his legal team.

According to a letter sent to Urich’s lawyers and reviewed by AFP, prosecutors intend to charge him with transmitting classified information, possession and transfer of classified materials, and destruction of evidence.

The investigation centers on the alleged leak of a classified document linked to Israel’s war in Gaza in 2024, in violation of Israeli military censorship regulations.

The leaked material was reportedly used to reinforce Netanyahu’s public position that Hamas was not genuinely pursuing a ceasefire agreement and that hostages seized during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks could only be freed through sustained military pressure.

Israeli authorities have already indicted two former Netanyahu advisers, Eli Feldstein and Ari Rosenfeld, in connection with the same case.

The legal pressure surrounding Netanyahu’s inner circle has intensified in recent months amid multiple investigations linked to the government’s conduct during the Gaza conflict and allegations involving foreign lobbying.

Urich is also among the figures implicated in the so-called “Qatargate” affair, in which several close Netanyahu associates are suspected of working to promote the interests of Qatar within Israel while Doha played a central mediation role in hostage and ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar has hosted senior Hamas officials for years and has frequently acted as an intermediary in indirect negotiations involving Israel, Hamas and international mediators during the Gaza war.

Israeli media reports have alleged that a consulting firm headed by Urich, a former spokesperson for Netanyahu’s Likud party, was hired to improve Qatar’s international image ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Separately, Israeli prosecutors said earlier this week they were considering charges against Netanyahu’s former chief of staff Tzachi Braverman for alleged fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice related to the classified document leak investigation.

The case adds to mounting political and legal scrutiny surrounding Netanyahu’s administration as Israel continues military operations in Gaza and faces growing domestic divisions over the handling of the war and hostage negotiations.

The measures expand enforcement powers under the Hong Kong national security law, introduced by Beijing in 2020 following large-scale pro-democracy protests in the financial hub.

The latest amendments mandate that individuals hand over “any password or other decryption method” needed for police to access electronic devices believed to contain evidence.

The rules apply not only to those under investigation for national security offences but also to individuals who own, possess, or are authorized to access the relevant devices, as well as anyone with knowledge of the required passwords or decryption tools.

Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence, marking a shift from previous practice, where refusal to unlock devices was not treated as obstruction.The amendments were formulated under the direction of Chief Executive John Lee in coordination with the National Security Commission.

A government spokesperson said the measures aim to ensure that activities endangering national security can be “effectively prevented, suppressed and punished,” while safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations.

Hong Kong has further strengthened its legal framework with an additional security law enacted in 2024, complementing the broader legislation imposed after the 2019 unrest.