It has emerged that almost 200 British academics could be facing prison. The academics from in excess of a dozen UK institutions are facing an investigation into whether they may have unwittingly helped the Chinese government build weapons of mass destruction. Officials are currently investigating the academics involved as there are suspicions that they may have breached laws designed to protect national security and human rights.
UNN’s Oliver Down understands that the academics under investigation are among some of the most prestigious in the country and are suspected of breaching the Export Control Order 2008. For those found guilty of breaching this law, the maximum penalty is a 10-year prison sentence. The order was brought in with the intention of preventing intellectual property in highly sensitive fields, such as military and security, from being sent to hostile states.
It is now emerging that pioneering technology on aircraft, missile design and cyberweapons may have been sent to China. It is being reported that 200 enforcement noticed are being prepared, prior to being sent to those suspected of breaching the rules.
A source has told the Times: ‘We could be seeing dozens of academics in courts before long. If even 10 per cent lead to successful prosecutions, we’d be looking at around 20 academics going to jail for helping the Chinese build super-weapons’.
A government spokesman has said: ‘Exporters of military goods and those engaged in transfer of military technology specified in the Export Control Order 2008 – including universities and academics – require a licence to export or transfer from the UK. It is their responsibility to comply with the regulations’.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
[sibwp_form id=4]
