A Canadian detained in Belgium on espionage charges will remain in custody as per the decision of the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office. Following a recent hearing where the woman appealed to be released, the Chamber of Indictments in Belgium extended her pretrial detention by an additional month.
In a statement released on July 25, the prosecutor’s office disclosed the arrest of a Canadian individual of Chinese descent over allegations of espionage and involvement in a criminal group. The unnamed suspect had been working as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, where she came under scrutiny by the organization’s security services. Subsequently, the matter was reported to Belgium’s military intelligence agency.
While the prosecutor’s office has not officially identified the suspect, a federal source, speaking under anonymity, suggested that the individual in question might be Biwei Zhang, also known as Claire Zhang, who had prior employment with Canadian government agencies.
This development marks a significant turn in the case, raising questions and concerns about the involvement of foreign nationals in espionage activities.
