Yuesheng Wang arrives for his economic espionage trial at a courthouse in Longueuil, Que., on Monday.

The long-awaited trial of a former researcher at Quebec’s electric utility charged with economic espionage for the benefit of China opened Thursday with the Crown beginning to present its case.

Yuesheng Wang, 38, is the first person to be charged with economic espionage under Canada’s Security of Information Act.

“The RCMP investigation initiated following a complaint filed by [the utility] allowed for the collection of documentary and testimonial evidence confirming the accused’s access to confidential Hydro-Québec information,” federal Crown prosecutor Sabrina Delli Fraine told Quebec court Judge Jean-Philippe Marcoux, who is hearing the case.

She clarified that the prosecution conte

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