UK drops charges against 2 men accused of spying for China

LONDON AP Two men who were accused of spying for China in Britain including a former researcher working in the U K Parliament will no longer face prosecution government announced Monday Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry had denied violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be useful to an enemy and prejudicial to the safety or interests of the U K between late and February Cash was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers focused on defense and foreign affairs from the Conservative Party Berry is reportedly an academic based in Oxfordshire who had taught in China since They were accused of being in contact with each other and a person suspected of being a Chinese intelligence agent The men were due to go on trial next month at London s Central Criminal Court but prosecutors announced Monday the episode could not continue The evidence in this occurrence has been kept under continuous review and it has now been determined that the evidential standard for the offence indicted is no longer met the Crown Prosecution Arrangement noted in a comment No further evidence will be offered Source