HONG KONG (AP) — A Chinese captain of a Hong Kong-flagged ship accused of sabotaging undersea cables and gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2023 pleaded not guilty in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday.
Wan Wenguo, the captain of the container ship Sing Sing Polar Bear, appeared in the Hong Kong District Court and pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal damage. He also pleaded not guilty to two separate charges related to breaching maritime safety requirements for his ships.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, sabotage of key undersea cables and gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea has raised security concerns among governments.
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Finnish authorities previously determined that the Newnew Polar Bear vessel was responsible for damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia in October 2023. Finland has also sought China’s cooperation in the investigation.
A charge sheet seen by The Associated Press accuses Wan, who is in his 40s, of sabotaging gas pipelines and undersea telecommunications cables between Finland and Estonia “without lawful excuse” and saying he acted “recklessly as to whether the property would be damaged.”
The case was heard in a Hong Kong court because the ship was registered in Hong Kong. The court heard on Wednesday that around 18 witnesses may be called to testify.