Los Angeles, March 28: US engineer Chi Mak has went on
trial on charges he exported US military submarine secrets to
China.
He is accused of working with his relatives, all of
Chinese origin, to deliver copies of sensitive military
information to the Chinese government without an export
license.
"Opening statements could begin later this week for a
trial US District Judge Cormac Carney has said could run four
to six weeks," said assistant prosecutor Greg Staples said.
Jury selection from among 75 prospective jurors began in
the Santa Ana courtroom outside Los Angeles yesterday.
The former top engineer had access to military technology
on silencing submarines at a US corporation with contacts in
the US Navy.
Mak could face as much as 50 years in prison if he is
found guilty.
The Guangzhou, China native has been a US citizen since
1985.
Mak, who is also charged with acting as an agent of China
in the United States and with making false statements, was
arrested after agents swooped down on two relatives at Los
Angeles international airport as they prepared to board a
flight to Hong Kong.
According to Justice Department documents, the duo were
caught with a disk containing sensitive encrypted data on US
submarines hidden inside an English-language CD course.
Mak has not been charged with espionage because the
information on the disk has not officially been deemed
classified.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 00:00