12-9-2024 (WASHINGTON) Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, a former CIA agent, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. The 71-year-old Ma, who admitted to conspiring to provide national defense information to China, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in May.
According to statements from the U.S. Department of Justice, Ma, who worked for the CIA from 1982 to 1989, was found guilty of conspiring with a now-deceased relative who was also a CIA employee. The two were reportedly approached by Chinese intelligence officers in March 2001. In exchange for $50,000 (approximately S$65,246), they provided a significant amount of classified national defense information.
Ma, originally from Hong Kong and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested in August 2020. The case highlights ongoing concerns about espionage and the security of sensitive information.
