Taxi driver in northern China accused of spying for foreign intelligence agency
Cabbie in Henan province arrested for allegedly carrying out surveillance on a military unit, according to newspaper report
A taxi driver in northern China has been arrested and accused of spying for a foreign intelligence agency, according to a newspaper report.
The man is alleged to have monitored a military unit based in the city of Kaifeng in Henan province, the Dahe Daily reported.
Henan has become a target for overseas spy agencies because several military units are garrisoned in the province and defence-related science and technology industries have bases there, according to the report.
The taxi driver was contacted by a man claiming to work for a foreign company after he put a post online looking for work in July 2013.
The cabbie, who was identified only by his family name Duan, was offered money to collect information on a military unit in Kaifeng.
The taxi driver was paid 300 yuan (HK$380) for his first assignment, taking note of the vehicles coming in and out of the base.
He would later ride a bicycle near the base to take notes during the day and would be paid in the evenings.