DATE=3/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228795
TITLE=CHINESE SCIENTIST
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   IN LOS ANGELES THURSDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCED A 
SCIENTIST TO ONE YEAR IN A HALFWAY HOUSE JAIL FACILITY FOR HAVING
PASSED SECRETS TO CHINESE SCIENTISTS.  VOA'S GREG FLAKUS HAS MORE
FROM LOS ANGELES.

TEXT:   IN SENTENCING SCIENTIST PETER LEE,  U-S DISTRICT JUDGE 
TERRY HATTER SAID A MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE SENT TO OTHER SCIENTISTS 
NOT TO REVEAL THE NATION'S SECRETS.   HE ALSO FINED, THE 
TAIWAN-BORN LEE, 20 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ORDERED HIM TO PERFORM 
THREE THOUSAND HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

LEE'S ATTORNEYS HAD ARGUED FOR A LESSER SENTENCE BECAUSE THE 
INFORMATION LEE GAVE TO CHINESE SCIENTISTS, MORE THAN A DECADE 
AGO, WAS DECLASSIFIED SOON AFTERWARDS AND RESULTED IN NO HARM TO 
U-S SECURITY.  BUT LEE ALSO GAVE LECTURES IN CHINA LAST YEAR 
WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING PERMISSION FROM THE U-S GOVERNMENT AS 
REQUIRED BY LAW.  JUDGE HATTER MODIFIED THE OLD ADAGE "LOOSE LIPS
SINK SHIPS" IN TELLING LEE THAT, IN HIS CASE, "LOOSE LIPS SINK 
CAREERS." (SIGNED).

NEB/GF/PLM

26-Mar-98 4:15 PM EST (2115 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.