BERLIN: The trial of an employee of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) on treason charges is set to begin on Wednesday morning, reported German news agency (dpa).
Almost a year after the arrest of the 53-year-old German national on suspicion of passing secret information to Russia, he is to face the court in Berlin at 9.30 am (0830 GMT) under tight security.
A 32-year-old diamond dealer is also on trial as an alleged accomplice.
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor alleges that the two Germans passed on secret information to Russia’s Secret Service, the FSB, on two occasions in autumn 2022 – a few months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The FSB is said to have paid each of the defendants for their services: BND employee Carsten L. with €450,000 and businessman Arthur E. with at least €400,000.
Germany’s privacy laws prevent the use of the surnames of the accused.
According to the investigators, Carsten L. allegedly printed out or photographed nine internal BND documents at his workstations in Berlin and Pullach near Munich in September and October 2022.
Arthur E. then allegedly handed over the secret information to the Russian Secret Service and met with FSB employees in Moscow on several occasions. The meetings were allegedly arranged by a Russian businessman whom E. knew.
Carsten L. was detained in Berlin on Dec 21, 2022, and his home and workplace were searched. Arthur E. was arrested in January 2023 as a suspected accomplice when he arrived in Munich on a flight from the US.
The investigation was conducted in close cooperation with the BND and with the support of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Both men have been in custody since then. On Aug 24, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against them.
The trial has been initially scheduled for 51 trial days, until July 17, 2024. Due to the large amount of information classified as secret, the trial is to be held mostly behind closed doors.
Strict security measures are in place. Mobile phones and laptops are not permitted in the courtroom. Wristwatches or jewellery, such as signet rings or medallions, may not be worn either.
Even fountain pens or ballpoint pens are taboo. According to the court, pens will be provided on site for taking notes. – BERNAMA-dpa
