US seeks to drop visa fraud charge against researcher accused of hiding ties to Chinese military
- Days before trial was expected to start, US prosecutors ask judge to dismiss charge against cancer researcher Tang Juan
- Federal agents said Tang allegedly sought refuge at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco after they interviewed her at her home
US prosecutors sought on Thursday to drop their case against a Chinese researcher accused of concealing her ties to the Chinese military on a visa application so she could work in the United States.
The trial was set to begin on Monday. A message seeking comment from the US Attorney’s office in Sacramento has not been returned.
Tang’s lawyers told the Sacramento Bee newspaper they provided “ample reason” to the government for dismissing the case.
“We hope Dr Tang is allowed to return to her daughter and husband on her own,” Malcolm Segal and Tom Johnson said in a statement.
In July last year, the Justice Department announced charges against Tang and three other scientists living in the US, saying they lied about their status as members of China’s People’s Liberation Army.