Chinese woman suspected of espionage in Norway rented house from S'pore man, who says he's not sure what happened

A 43-year-old man from Singapore whose company was used as a cover for alleged espionage in Norway is considered "central" to the case.

On May 7, the man spoke to Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), alleging that he was tricked into buying a house in Andøya, an island in Northern Norway situated in the Arctic Circle.

Speaking to VG, the man alleged that he had never been to Andøya himself and that a Chinese friend introduced him to a business partner who offered 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270) per month for rent if he bought the house.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that on May 7, a woman from China was arrested in relation to the case after she was suspected of engaging in intelligence activities targeting state secrets.

The house where the Chinese woman was arrested allegedly belonged to a man from Singapore.

Espionage involved downloading data from satellites

According to VG, Andøya Space is one of Europe's most important satellite launch sites.

On May 8, Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) public prosecutor Thomas Blom told VG that three people and one company allegedly involved in the case have been charged.

Blom said: “The operation is based on suspicions that a company registered in Norway is being used as a cover for an attempt by a Chinese state actor to establish a receiving station to download data from satellites in polar orbit.”

Two houses, one in Andøya and another in Otta, eastern Norway, both registered to the man from Singapore, were raided.

A 22-ton mobile satellite receiver was seized.

The Chinese woman who has been in Norway since March has been remanded for four weeks.

When questioned on the purpose of the satellite receiver, she said it was for "weather data".

Blom said Norwegian authorities chose to act because the woman was on her way to a country with which Norway had no extradition agreement.

If found guilty, she could face up to 10 years' jail, reported Reuters.

Known friend since he was in school

Neither the Chinese woman nor the man from Singapore was named by Norwegian media.

The man from Singapore told VG: "I'm not entirely sure what happened. My understanding is that a Chinese woman has been identified as a spy."

The man claimed that he had nothing to do with the espionage.

He said that at the end of 2025, a friend he had known since school introduced him to someone who wanted to do business in Norway.

He alleged that the individual needed to find a place that they could rent and that they found the house themselves, telling the man to contact the broker.

The man said that everything was done digitally and that his last trip to Norway was in February.

Bought house for S$220,800

The man told VG that the initial offer for the monthly rent was 100,000 Norwegian Krone (S$13,800) before it was negotiated down to 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270).

The Andøya house was purchased in March for over 1.6 million Norwegian Krone (S$220,797), but he claimed the lease with the Chinese individuals was never finalised and signed, reported VG.

However, the man noted that he was in contact with the individuals and granted them access to the house.

In April, the man from Singapore received a message related to imports and customs that a shipment from China was sent to Norway under the name of his company.

He told VG: "I refused to accept these goods. These goods were sent to Norway without my knowledge."

"I also declined the woman's offer to pay a consulting fee to help them. That's all I know."

The man from Singapore sent VG screenshots of a group chat that involved the shipment and said that he never physically met the woman who offered the consulting fee.

VG also reported that the man had been previously involved in bankruptcy and a civil lawsuit.

China denies claims

On May 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he was "not aware of the specific situation" when a foreign reporter asked him to comment on the case, Global Times reported.

Lin said, "China firmly opposes any groundless accusations and malicious smears against China, and believes that Norway will effectively protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens."