US$1 million bail set for Harvard professor Charles Lieber, who was charged with hiding China ties
- Chemistry department chair is accused of lying about his participation in China’s Thousand Talents Plan, which targets overseas scientists and researchers
- He allegedly agreed to do research, write articles and apply for patents on behalf of Chinese school for US$50,000 per month and US$150,000 in living expenses
A Harvard University professor charged with lying about his role in a Chinese talent recruitment programme must post a US$1 million cash bond, a judge ruled Thursday.
Lieber is accused of lying about his participation in China’s Thousand Talents Plan, which targets overseas scientists and researchers willing to bring their expertise to China in exchange for things like research funding and lab space.
Prosecutors had proposed setting bond at US$1.5 million secured by Lieber’s suburban Boston home. But Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler instead ordered Lieber to post a US$1 million cash bond by next Thursday.
Lieber is required to give up his passport and disclose any foreign bank accounts and barred from talking to any potential victims or witnesses in the case, among other things. His wife will also hand over her passport after prosecutors raised concerns that she could move cash to another country.
Prosecutors say Lieber agreed to conduct research, publish articles and apply for patents on behalf of China’s Wuhan University of Technology in exchange for US$50,000 per month and about US$150,000 in living expenses. He also received $1.5 million to establish a research lab at the Chinese university, authorities said.
Authorities say Lieber hid his involvement in the programme from Harvard and told federal investigators in 2018 that he had never been asked to participate in the programme.
Harvard officials said Tuesday that Lieber has been placed on administrative leave and that the school is “conducting its own review of the alleged misconduct”.
Lieber’s arrest highlights the federal government’s growing concern over China’s efforts to steal US research and technology.
Chinese recruitment programmes such as the Thousand Talents Plan have been exploited by scientists who have downloaded sensitive research files before returning to China, filed patents based on US research, lied on grant applications and failed to disclose money they had received from Chinese institutions, according to a congressional report issued last fall.
Federal prosecutors in Boston also announced charges this week against a researcher at Boston University, who is accused of concealing her ties to the Chinese military.
Ye Yanqing, who prosecutors say is a lieutenant in the People’s Liberation Army, lied about her military service to get in the US and researched US military projects and gathered information on two US scientists for the Chinese military, authorities allege.
The FBI on Thursday released a wanted poster for Ye, who is believed to be in China.
