A Chinese student living in the United States has been sentenced to nine months in prison for stalking and threatening a female Chinese student who posted pro-democracy leaflets on campus.
The flyer, posted at Boston's Berklee College of Music in late 2022, read: “We want freedom… We want democracy. We want love. We want to stand with the Chinese people.”
In response, Xiaolei Wu said, “Chop.” [the woman’s] “Don't touch me.”
A federal judge ordered the 26-year-old to be deported after completing his sentence.
“It is deeply disturbing that Mr. Wu used the authoritarian nature of the People's Republic of China as a weapon to threaten this woman,” said Jodi Cohen, head of the FBI's Boston division, which investigated the case. Stated.
The pro-democracy leaflets were posted in late October 2022, when a wave of activity was spreading among Chinese people overseas.
The court heard that Wu, who studied jazz at university, communicated directly with the victim through email and social media platforms such as WeChat and Instagram.
The U.S. attorney's office in Massachusetts said Wednesday that the man informed Chinese authorities about her actions and told her that Chinese security officials were going to “say hello” to the victim's family.
The man also tried to track her down and published her email address “in hopes that others would abuse the victim online,” authorities said.
At his sentencing in January, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said Wu's “violent threats instilled fear in his victims and in those who sought to speak out against the Chinese government.” That objective has been achieved.”
“Our office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate efforts to intimidate people and suppress their First Amendment rights. Censorship and campaigns of repression will never be tolerated here.”
In the US, the crime of cyberstalking is punishable by up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 (£202,000).
The same penalties apply to the crime of interstate transmission of threatening communications.
