Man accused of shadow police operations said he had fake ID to ‘impress friends’
A former Border Force officer accused of conducting shadow police operations in the UK said he had a fake police card to “impress friends and family”, a court heard.
Dual Chinese-British national Peter Wai, 38, also worked as a special constable with the City of London Police when he allegedly committed offences under the National Security Act.
He was allegedly tasked by former Hong Kong police superintendent Bill Yuen, 65, to gather intelligence and carry out surveillance for China.
Targets included Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters and dissidents living in the UK and British politicians sympathetic to their cause, jurors have heard.
Wai is accused of misusing his position to make unauthorised searches of the Home Office computer system for individuals of interest to China.
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Wai said that he had fake City of London Police ID card in which he was ranked a superintendent to “impress friends and family”.
The court previously heard that it was found below a kitchen window outside Monica Kwong’s flat in Pontefract, where Wai was arrested on the evening of May 1 2024.
Personal assistant Ms Kwong had left Hong Kong in 2023 with her young son amid accusations she had embezzled £16 million from her employer, which she has denied.
Mr Atkinson asked if the whole purpose of bringing it was to “put the fear of god” into Ms Kwong and “threaten” and “intimidate” her with the ID.
Wai replied: “No.”
The court heard that Wai had used ChatGPT to research how to produce false identification.
Mr Atkinson asked: “You knew that you could be in trouble when you made it, didn’t you?
Wai replied: “Yes”
Mr Atkinson asked: “ChatGPT had told you that, hadn’t it?”
Wai said: “Yes”
The chatbot said that producing a fake police ID card could lead to “serious legal consequences”, jurors were told.
Mr Atkinson asked why he made the ID having been told that.
Wai replied: “To impress friends and family.”
Mr Atkinson then asked if Wai often pretends to be things.
Wai said: “Like what?”
Mr Atkinson said: “Like having nothing to do with providing intelligence to China when that’s exactly what you have been doing for years?”
Wai denied this.
He and Yuen are jointly charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and foreign interference.
Wai is also accused of misconduct in a public office.
Wai, of Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey; and Yuen, of Hackney, east London, have denied wrongdoing.
The trial continues.