WASHINGTON. Dec 11: US authorities on Friday charged a Taiwan-born scientist central to the scandal over allegations China stole US atomic secrets, with improperly handling topsecret nuclear data, but not with espionage, reports AFP.

Wen Ho Lee has denied the United States its exclusive dominion and control over some of the nation's most important and sensitive nuclear secrets." US Attorney John Kelly said after a New Mexico grand jury returned the charges.

Lee -- who denied any wrongdoing when he was fired in March from his job at the Los Alamos nuclear laboratories in New Mexico for security violations -- faces 59 criminal counts under both the 1954 Atomic Energy Act and the Federal Espionage Act. He could be sentenced to life in prison.

"The indictment alleges that Lee tampered with, altered and concealed classified information concerning the design, construction, use and testing of US thermonuclear and geothermonuclear weapons." said Ron Lopez, spokesman for the US Attorney's office in New Mexico.

Lee. a US citizen since 1974. Is also charged with "the unlawful gathering and retention of national security information on the design specifics ... of US thermonuclear and geothermonuclear weapons." said Lopez.