Two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling restricted biological materials into the United States will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing in separate court appearances in Detroit on June 13.
Han Chengxuan, a doctoral candidate from China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology in central China’s Wuhan city, and Jian Yunqing, a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan, allegedly smuggled the materials for use at the University of Michigan.
On Friday, the two defendants said they would not challenge prosecutors’ request to keep them in detention while their cases progress.
“This is a constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors,” Han’s attorney, Sara Garber, told a judge. Garber didn’t elaborate and later declined to comment.
Jian’s attorneys declined to comment Friday.
Han was arrested upon landing at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a flight from China on June 8. She arrived on an exchange visitor visa and planned to spend a year at the University of Michigan for a research project on roundworms.