Canadian detained in China tried on spy charges, but no verdict announced

Information has been sparse from a Chinese court following the trial of one of Canada’s “Two Michaels.”

Entrepreneur Michael Spavor had his court hearing Friday in Dandong.

He’s been detained by the Chinese government for over two years for allegedly spying and sending state secrets abroad.

He and ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig were arrested in December 2018, days after Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the U.S.

Canada said its consular officials were refused permission to attend Spavor’s trial. Journalists were kept outside too.

Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassy’s deputy chief of mission, says Spavor’s lawyer says the two-hour hearing ended with no verdict announced.

The court’s website says a sentence will be pronounced at a later date.

Nickel says Canada is still hopeful that the two Michaels could be released through joint efforts with the U.S., whose top diplomats are currently holding face-to-face talks in Alaska with their Chinese counterparts.