Australia has charged two Chinese nationals with foreign interference for allegedly collecting information on a Buddhist group in Canberra on behalf of a Chinese government security agency.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that the suspects, a 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, are accused of working with another Chinese woman who was charged in August.

They face one count each of reckless foreign interference, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The case marks the second time Chinese nationals have been charged under Australia’s foreign interference laws introduced in 2018, bringing the total number of individuals charged under the legislation to five.

Australia’s spy chief, Mike Burgess, said foreign regimes are targeting diaspora communities through monitoring and intimidation, calling such behavior unacceptable. The investigation began last year after intelligence was provided by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

China’s embassy in Australia has not commented. The foreign interference laws have previously strained relations between Canberra and Beijing.