BRIEFLY LAWYER: ALLEGED SPY AN FBI 'ASSET'.

A woman charged with passing classified information to the Chinese government was actually set up as a double agent by the FBI and was supplied with documents to convince Chinese intelligence agents she was helping them, her lawyer said in a bail motion filed in Los Angeles late Monday.

Katrina Leung was portrayed as a loyal ``asset'' to the FBI in the motion seeking her release on $1 million bail. Her lawyers also asserted she would not flee to China if released because she would surely be imprisoned for life or put to death there.

According to Leung's lawyers, the well-connected, socially active woman, who lived with her family in a mansion in San Marino, used her contacts to provide the FBI with a wealth of information about China.

- Associated Press

Metro Gold Line opening approaches

PASADENA - The new Metro Gold Line, a 13.7-mile light-rail line between downtown and Pasadena, is tentatively scheduled to open July 26, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said Monday.

The $725 million project is undergoing test runs pending final regulatory approvals. Trains are tentatively expected to run every eight to 10 minutes during commute hours and every 15 to 30 minutes during noncommute times.

- Daily News

Probation ordered in child dumping

VAN NUYS - A Woodland Hills woman who left her newborn son in the parking lot of a San Fernando Valley hospital last year was sentenced Monday to five years' formal probation.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Barry Taylor gave Rosemary Gutierrez, 28, credit for 21 days already served in county jail and ordered her to undergo psychological counseling, said Deputy District Attorney Andrea Thompson.

Gutierrez pleaded no contest March 14 to a felony child endangerment charge.

- City News Service

Police hunt trio in bank robbery

NORTH HILLS - Police were looking for three men Monday in connection with the takeover-style robbery of a bank.

The bandits brandishing firearms walked into a Citibank branch about 9:15 a.m. and ordered everyone to the ground, Los Angeles police said. The gunmen made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the bank as well as from a customer, police said.

- Daily News

Father, son make plea deal in fraud

A Southland father and son, who allegedly defrauded investors out of $130 million through their operation of a commodities futures trading firm, are expected to plead guilty to federal charges, a prosecutor said Monday.

Northridge resident Moshe Leichner and his 31-year-old son, Zvi, of Bell Canyon, both agreed to plead guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kramer.

Under the plea deal filed last week, both the elder Leichner, 54, and his son are expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison, Kramer said. They have also agreed to turn over several luxury cars and homes, as well as money in overseas accounts, he said.

- City News Service