Belgian-Chinese man to face trial over suspected semiconductor espionage

BRUSSELS (AP) — A Belgian-Chinese man has been taken into custody on suspicion of industrial espionage after allegedly transferring trade secrets about semiconductor production to China, Belgian prosecutors said Monday.

Prosecutors said the 52-year-old man, who was born in Beijing but lived in Belgium, was detained on May 10 as he was about to board a flight in Brussels to the Chinese capital. The man, who was not named, is being held in prison while he awaits trial.

The man worked in a senior research position at a company named BelGaN that specializes in making gallium nitride semiconductors, used in electric vehicles, satellites, radar systems and for electronic warfare.

The company, which employed around 400 people, was declared bankrupt in July 2024.

Prosecutors said investigators suspect the man was working at the same time as the head of a Chinese company doing similar kinds of work. They believe the company was set up just a few months after he started at BelGaN.

The investigation focuses on whether he was involved in industrial espionage, membership in a criminal organization, misuse of company assets and unlawful disclosure of business secrets.

Several data storage devices and electronic communications equipment were seized as part of the probe and are being analyzed, the Belgian federal prosecutors said in a statement.

They said they are pursuing a second suspect but did not provide details.