PROSECUTION of two men accused of spying for China was blocked despite evidence provided by MI5, it has been claimed.
The UK’s domestic counter-intelligence agency was heavily involved in the case against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who had charges against them dropped last month.
ReutersProsecution of two men accused of spying for China was blocked despite evidence provided by MI5, it has been claimed (pictured Christopher Cash)[/caption]
Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry (pictured) had charges against them dropped last monthReuters
MI5 was understood to have wanted the prosecution to go ahead, but no agents would have given evidence, the Telegraph has reported.
The case against the pair was dropped following a Whitehall meeting chaired by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, a close ally of PM Sir Keir Starmer.
It would have marked the first time a court case had taken place over claims of spying for China.
To prove the case, prosecutors had to show the defendants, who denied the charges, were acting for an “enemy”.
But Mr Powell is understood to have revealed the government’s evidence would be based on the national security strategy — which does not use that term for China, so it could not be used.
No10 said yesterday: “The suggestion that the Government withheld evidence, withdrew witnesses, or restricted the ability of witnesses to draw on particular bits of evidence are all untrue.”
Stephen Parkinson, the country’s top prosecutor, said the case was stopped because of an “evidential failure”.
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