Belgian federal prosecutors accuse a 52-year-old Chinese-Belgian former senior BelGaN researcher of transferring trade secrets for gallium nitride chips abroad. He was detained on May 10 before boarding a flight to Beijing and remains jailed awaiting trial. He denies the allegations, while investigators continue to pursue a second suspect who has not been arrested.
Belgium's federal prosecutor said a 52-year-old Chinese-Belgian former BelGaN researcher was detained at Brussels airport on May 10 as he prepared to board a flight to Beijing. Euronews and AP News separately report the same suspect and investigation. He remains jailed awaiting trial. Prosecutors are examining suspected espionage, participation in a criminal organisation, misuse of company assets and unlawful disclosure of trade secrets.[1], [2]
Prosecutors say the case may involve the unlawful transfer abroad of intellectual property and trade secrets for manufacturing gallium nitride chips. Euronews reports that these chips are used in electric vehicles, aerospace and military equipment. AP News also identifies the same gallium nitride manufacturing information as the focus of the inquiry. These are prosecutorial allegations: the man denies them and has not been convicted.[1], [2]
The suspect held a senior research role at Belgian manufacturer BELGAN, which went bankrupt in 2024 and left 400 people out of work. Euronews and AP News report that prosecutors suspect he also directed a Chinese company operating in the same field of production. Investigators seized data-storage devices during searches. A second suspect named in the case has not been arrested, and the investigation into that person continues.[1], [2]
