Prague court acquits Chinese man in first case under foreign-spying law

Prague’s Municipal Court on Monday acquitted a Chinese citizen accused of working for China’s intelligence service, ruling that the conduct established in court did not meet the requirements of a criminal offense.

The court also released Jang I-ming from pretrial detention. Prosecutors appealed both the acquittal and his release, meaning the case will now go to Prague’s High Court. The verdict is not final.

Jang was the first person prosecuted in Czechia under the offense of unauthorized activity for a foreign power, which took effect in February 2025. He denies wrongdoing and maintains that he was carrying out ordinary journalistic work.

Judge Tome Frankič said the court considered much of the prosecution’s account established, including that Jang belonged to Chinese intelligence, worked for a foreign power and developed contacts while monitoring Czech politics.

However, prosecutors had not proved that he intended to threaten or damage Czechia’s constitutional order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, defense or security, the judge said. That intent is a required element of the offense.

The reports Jang produced and passed on were also incapable of threatening Czech interests, according to Frankič. His primary purpose was gathering information.

The judge cited a Constitutional Court ruling explaining that criminal liability requires an immediate, specific and real threat to protected Czech interests, rather than an abstract risk.

Defense lawyer Michal Sýkora welcomed the court’s legal assessment but disputed its conclusion that much of the prosecution’s factual account had been proved. He reserved time to consider an appeal.

Prosecutor Martin Bílý alleged that Jang arrived in Czechia in 2022 and obtained Foreign Ministry accreditation as a correspondent for a Chinese newspaper.

According to the indictment, he used that role as cover to gather political and economic information and map networks of influence under instructions from a foreign intelligence service.

Prosecutors said he cultivated contacts through dinners, small gifts and invitations to conferences in China, then prepared documents that he passed to another person.

The prosecution concerned activity from February 2025 onward, after the new offense entered into force. Bílý had sought a three-year prison sentence and expulsion.

Sýkora said his client currently had no plans to leave Czechia. The prosecutor acknowledged that Jang was under no obligation to remain following his release.

The case has unfolded alongside diplomatic tensions over a Czech citizen detained in China in late June on suspicion of endangering state security.

Beijing criticized Czech authorities’ treatment of the Chinese journalist. Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said the detained Czech had been visiting China privately and had no ties to Czech state institutions.

Most of Jang’s trial was closed to the public to protect classified information, and Monday’s proceedings took place under heavy security.