Alexander Yuk Ching Ma: Ex-CIA spy sentenced to ten years

WASHINGTON: Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, a former officer of the United States (US) spy agency Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) received a ten-year prison term on September 11 for his role in leaking classified US national defense information to the Chinese government.

The septuagenarian was naturalised as a US citizen after emigrating from Hong Kong. He admitted guilt in May this year to charges of conspiracy related to the transmission of sensitive information  to a foreign entity.

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The sentence was handed down by Chief US District Judge Derrick K Watson in Honolulu, located in the US state of Hawaii. This followed a plea agreement that included a recommendation for a ten-year term.

The deal also mandates that Alexander Yuk Ching Ma undergo polygraph examination or the remainder of his life. Had he not accepted the plea, he could have faced a life sentence.

Ma’s espionage activities reportedly began as early as 2001, when he became an asset for the Chinese Ministry of State Security. Court documents reveal that he facilitated a meeting in Hong Kong between his older brother, also a former CIA officer, and Chinese intelligence agents.

During the encounter, Ma’s brother disclosed a substantial amount of classified information in cxchange for $50,000.

The sensitive information shared included the identification of CIA personnel, methods of secure  communication, and insights into the agency’s internal operations.

Following the initial contact, Ma continued his espionage efforts while working as a contract linguist for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Honolulu from 2004 till 2012.

Prosecutors indicated that he frequently copied and photographed classified documents, which he then transported to China, receiving cash and luxury gifts in return.

The Hong Konger was discovered when the FBI became suspicious and started monitoring his activities. In a sting operation, he accepted cash for his previous espionage efforts and vonveyed his wish to see China prosper.

In a letter he wrote to the judge presiding over his case, Ma expressed ‘regret’ for his action. He cited the close bond with his brother as reason for not reporting his involvement.

The case is part of a larger initiative by the US Department of Justice to combat Chinese espionage. Other significant cases include the sentencing of former CIA officer Jerry Chun Shing Lee to 19 years, and former Defense Intelligence Angency officer Rom Rockwell Hansen to ten years for similar crimes.