Astellas employee in China expected to be released in December

World · First reported 7 Nov, 15:00 · Updated 15:01

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

A Japanese Astellas Pharma employee serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence in China for espionage is expected to be released on Dec. 14 and return to Japan, according to sources cited by The Japan Times. The employee was detained in March 2023 and indicted in August 2024.

Sources cited by The Japan Times say final arrangements are being made to release the Astellas employee on Dec. 14 and that he is expected to return to Japan.
The employee, described as being in his 60s, was detained in March 2023 as he was about to leave China after his Beijing assignment ended.
He was indicted in August 2024 and sentenced to three years and six months in prison for espionage in China.

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Key facts

Expected release: Dec. 14, according to sources cited by The Japan Times.
Sentence: Three years and six months in prison for espionage in China.
Detained: March 2023, as he was about to leave China after his Beijing assignment ended.
Indicted: August 2024.
Expected destination: Return to Japan.