Canadian officer accused of spying for China acquitted of national security charges

A retired Canadian police officer accused of acting as an agent for China has been acquitted of national security charges after a court found that prosecutors failed to prove he engaged in illegal conduct.

William Majcher, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) financial crime unit, had been charged in 2023 under Canada’s Security of Information Act. Authorities alleged he assisted Chinese police in pressuring a Vancouver-area real estate investor accused of fraud to return to China.

However, on Wednesday, Justice Martha Devlin of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that Majcher was not guilty, stating the Crown had “failed to meet its burden of proof.”

The case was closely watched in Canada amid rising concerns over alleged foreign interference and reports of covert Chinese operations targeting dissidents abroad.

Majcher, who now resides in Hong Kong and works as a private financial and cybersecurity investigator, was arrested in Vancouver in 2023. At the time, investigators alleged he used his law enforcement background and professional network to obtain intelligence or services benefiting the People’s Republic of China.

During the trial, however, the prosecution’s case weakened significantly, with the judge concluding that the evidence presented was largely circumstantial.

Justice Devlin noted that the RCMP’s investigation appeared to rely on suspicion rather than concrete proof. She also addressed a key meeting between Majcher and his former superior, anti-money-laundering expert Peter German, where Majcher explained aspects of his professional relationship with Chinese authorities.

The judge stated it was reasonable to conclude that Majcher would not have discussed such matters openly with a senior former law enforcement official if he believed his actions were unlawful.

Following the verdict, Majcher said he was relieved by the outcome but described the legal process as deeply damaging for him and his family.

“I am very grateful to the judge and to my family,” he told reporters. “These three years have been devastating. That’s time I will never get back, and neither will they.”

Majcher’s lawyer, Ian Donaldson, suggested that broader concerns over foreign interference may have influenced the intensity of the investigation.

He also criticized the extensive public resources used in the case, arguing that suspicion had overtaken evidence.

The ruling comes at a time when Canada continues to face heightened scrutiny over alleged foreign influence operations, particularly involving China, though this case underscores the challenges prosecutors face in proving such allegations in court.

Courtesy: theguardian