Accused Chinese Agent Wanying Zhang Makes First Court Appearance; Hearing Continued to Wednesday
Wanying "Heather" Zhang, the Irvine realtor accused of acting as an unregistered agent of China and surveilling relatives of a senior Taiwanese official in the US, made her first court appearance Monday in downtown Los Angeles. Per the New York Post, she wore a high-collared designer jacket and shackles, with her husband Edric Ding watching from the gallery.
Her public defender Chad Pennington requested a sidebar with the judge seconds into the hearing, triggering a 20-minute recess. When proceedings resumed, Zhang confirmed she understood the charges. The case was continued to Wednesday (Oct. 7) while she considers retaining private counsel.
Outside court, Ding dodged reporters' questions — including whether his wife is a Chinese spy — saying nothing and at times blocking cameras. Zhang was arrested Oct. 4 at LAX before boarding a flight to China. (Via NY Post, DOJ complaint)
Related:
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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