Maidenhead ex-marine's death: Pair in court over Hong Kong spy case

In May, three men - Chi 'Peter' Wai, 39, Chung Biu Yuen, 64, and former Royal Marine Matthew Trickett, 37 from Maidenhead - appeared in court accused of helping a foreign intelligence service. 

A week later, Mr Trickett was found by a member of the public in Grenfell Park in Maidenhead and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Former Royal Marine Matthew Trickett, 37 from Maidenhead appeared in court in May, accused of helping a foreign intelligence service.  (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Police reported that the Home Office immigration officer's death was not considered suspicious, and the Crown Prosecution Service has said the case against Trickett would be formally “discontinued” after the “unexplained” death.

Now Wai and Yuen have appeared in court as part of the ongoing espionage case. 

The two men are accused of foreign interference and appeared at a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday wearing suits.

The charges against them allege that between December 20 2023 and May 2 2024, Wai and Yuen agreed to undertake information gathering, surveillance and acts of deception that were likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service.

It is also alleged that on May 1 2024 they forced entry into a UK residential address, being reckless as to whether the prohibited conduct, or course of conduct of which it forms part, would have an interference effect.

They were not asked to enter pleas to the charges on Friday and arraignment was adjourned to November 22.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said: “This is a case under the National Security Act. There are particular sensitivities to it.”

Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey and Yuen, of Hackney, east London, were charged with the offences under the National Security Act following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

A provisional trial is set for the Old Bailey from February 10 next year.