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| Fifth Column |
| Feds Say 2 Violate Arms Export Control Act (China) |
| 2006-02-09 |
| A Taiwanese man and a Frenchman were charged Thursday with attempting to buy and export to China cruise missiles, an F-16 fighter engine and other military parts and weaponry. Ko-Suen "Bill" Moo, of Taipei, was also accused in the indictment of being a covert Chinese agent and attempting to pay a $500,000 bribe to gain release from U.S. custody. He has been held since November and has pleaded not guilty to the illegal export charges. The other man indicted, Maurice Serge Voros of Paris, remains at large. The activities described in the indictment are illegal under the Arms Export Control Act. Since 2000, there have been more than 400 investigations into alleged efforts by Chinese agents or front companies to buy or illegally divert U.S.-made weapons, military components and sensitive technology, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. According to the indictment, Moo deposited $3.9 million in a Swiss bank account to pay for weaponry after he allegedly met with people he thought could arrange the sale. They were in fact undercover U.S. agents. If convicted on all counts, Moo would face up to 50 years in prison and Voros could get up to 35 years behind bars. |
| Posted by:ed |