A former German spy and his lover have been sentenced for betraying
state secrets and filing fraudulent expense claims during a covert mission to
Kosovo.
The 43-year-old German was sentenced to two years and three months
in prison, while the 29-year-old Macedonian was given a suspended 14-month
sentence.
The lieutenant colonel in Germany’s BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst)
secret service was found guilty of betraying state secrets to the Macedonian
interpreter who became his partner.
Prosecutors said the lover had been allowed to read classified
German documents as well as the agent’s notebook computer during bedroom
encounters in 2007 and 2008.
The data leaks had seriously hampered German security interests
abroad.
The court heard that the Macedonian, who was connected to organised
crime and a foreign spy service, sought to sell the information.
The pair was also found guilty of filing fraudulent expense claims
worth €14 700 (R142 000).
Germany arrested the two men in March 2008.
A judge bailed them after ruling there was not enough evidence to
hold them, but they were rearrested a year later as the inquiry gathered pace.
