Hong Kong resident John Leung Shing-wan was sentenced to life imprisonment and had his political rights stripped for life for espionage, according to an official statement issued by the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu province on Monday.

The court heard the case and rendered its verdict on Monday. It also ruled to confiscate Leung's personal property worth 500,000 yuan ($71,800).

Born in May 1945, Leung holds permanent residency in Hong Kong and also possesses a United States passport, the court said.

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Suzhou's National Security Bureau began investigating Leung on April 15, 2021, on suspicion of spying.