HONG KONG, Jan 20 (Reuters) — A lawyer for the Chinese captain of a Hong Kong-registered ship, accused of damaging underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, stated on Tuesday that 18 witnesses would be called to testify in the case.
Wan Wenguo, captain of the container ship Newnew Polar Bear, is alleged to have caused “criminal damage” to an underwater natural gas pipeline and telecommunications cables between Finland and Estonia on October 8, 2023, as per a charge sheet from Hong Kong.
The Baltic Sea area has been on high alert for potential sabotage since various incidents involving power cables, gas pipelines, and telecoms occurred after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
However, Nordic and Baltic authorities have found it difficult to prove intent and secure convictions in these cases.
Wan, 43, appeared in a Hong Kong court on Tuesday, but his lawyer, Jerry Chung, indicated that more time was needed to review documents before entering a plea. The court has postponed the case until February 11.
Chung informed the media that 10 witnesses, including crew members, Hong Kong officials, and two maritime experts, would testify regarding the criminal damage charge. He also mentioned that the maximum penalty for this charge is two years in prison.
The charge sheet accused Wan of being “reckless” and “damaging the property belonging to another without lawful excuse.”
DAMAGE TO BALTICCONNECTOR PIPELINE
Finland has sought high-level support from China for the investigation, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb addressing the matter during a state visit to Beijing in 2024.
By May 2025, Finnish police announced that the investigation was ongoing in collaboration with Chinese authorities. They concluded that the vessel Polar Bear had caused damage to the Balticconnector, a subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia, by dragging its anchor along the seabed.
Estonian police also believe the ship may have damaged telecommunications cables linking Estonia to Finland and Sweden before hitting the pipeline.
The cost to repair the gas pipeline alone is reported to be 35 million euros ($41.02 million), according to its operator, Gasgrid Finland.
Wan's lawyer did not provide details on any damages that might be claimed or who would be responsible, stating he was unaware of any other individuals being prosecuted besides Wan.
Wan faces two additional charges for not ensuring the ship met safety regulations applicable to Hong Kong-registered vessels worldwide, as outlined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.
Chung mentioned these charges relate to an anchor's disappearance from the ship and Wan's failure to report daily to his company's office. Eight more witnesses will be called for these infractions, according to Chung.
Wan did not seek bail at his initial hearing last May following his arrest, and he remains in custody.
Although the incidents did not happen in Hong Kong waters, the ship was operating under the Hong Kong flag, placing it under the city’s maritime regulatory jurisdiction internationally. Hong Kong prosecutors are collaborating with Finnish and Estonian authorities on this case.
Some European governments have accused Russia of conducting hybrid attacks and sabotaging critical infrastructure, but Moscow denies these allegations, claiming that the West seeks to undermine Russian interests through an information campaign.