An NYPD officer was allegedly hired by the Chinese government to spy on Tibetan immigrants. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
On Monday, 33-year-old Baimadajie Angwang was charged for allegedly spying on Tibetan New Yorkers. The complaint stated that Angwang was hired as an illegal agent who was at the “direction and control” of Chinese government officials at the consulate in New York, Complex Media reports. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The Chinese government allegedly wanted to keep an eye on Tibetan immigrants who support the Tibetan independence movement and to evaluate the possible intelligence sources, The Hill reports. The complaint also said that the officer used his position to link officials at the Chinese consulate with leaders of the NYPD. “None of these activities falls within the scope of Angwang’s official duties and responsibilities with either the NYPD or the USAR,” the complaint said.
Communication between Angwang and an official at the consulate had been reportedly happening since 2014. Another unnamed official, who is referred to as “boss” and “big brother,” came in connection with Angwang in 2018. The complaint went on to say that Angwang told this official that he wanted “raise our country’s soft power” by introducing the official to other officers at NYPD events and giving him information from within the department.
So far, no information has emerged that he compromised national security or the operations of NYPD. But in a statement, NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said that Angwang had “violated every oath he took in this country.” “One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to this Police Department. From the earliest stages of this investigation, the NYPD’s Intelligence and Internal Affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division to make sure this individual would be brought to justice,” Dermot wrote.
In the meantime, Angwang, who is a native of China, has spoken out about being “arrested and tortured” during his time in China solely because of his Tibetan ethnicity. Now, Angwang faces charges that include wire fraud, making false statements, and obstructing an official proceeding. The man is being held without bond and, if convicted, could serve up to 55 years in prison.
