The London court said that the guard of the British embassy, who was spying on Russia, recorded the “secret” letter to the prime minister. | – #London #court #guard #British #embassy #spying #Russia #recorded #secret #letter #prime #minister
LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – For more than three years, a security guard at the British embassy in Berlin has been accused of stealing highly sensitive information, including Prime Minister The government has collected “secret” contacts with Boris Johnson, prosecutors told a London court on Monday.
David Ballantyne Smith, 58, scanned copies of letters from two cabinet ministers to Johnson and other documents “relating to sensitive commercial matters”, prosecutor Alison Morgan told London’s Old Bailey.
Smith, who was found guilty of eight charges 2018from March to August 2021 imprisonment until it is – itself Russia military it is claimed that he collected information a day after meeting with “Irina”, an MI-5 officer who presented himself as a member of the intelligence service.
A search of Smith’s home in Potsdam, Germany after his arrest turned up several photos of embassy staff and a USB memory stick containing diplomatic passports, Morgan said.
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Smith also taped a number of sensitive documents he found in the bins, including 20 classified ‘secret’ letters to Johnson from then-trade secretary Liz Truss and then-business minister Alok Sharma.20letter in November.
Morgan said Smith 2020in Berlin, Russia in November military attache general-Major Sergey Chukhrova “Britain sent a letter containing very sensitive information about the embassy and those working there.
Morgan said that Britain in a letter written on the embassy’s letterhead, the names, home addresses and phone numbers of the embassy employees and Britain embassy Russia There are additional documents authored by the supervisor who deals with
He added that the discovery of Smith’s letter to Chukhrov led to a joint investigation between British and German authorities.
This is primarily an MI5 officer assisting England Russia was related to his appearance as “Dmitri”, a citizen.
The court was shown secretly recorded footage showing Smith filming CCTV footage of “Dmitri” from inside the embassy’s security booth.
Smith was then approached by “Irina” who told her that she needed help because someone had “passed information to the British and the information could harm Russia.”
In hidden camera footage played in court, “Irina” asks Smith if she can help, to which he replies, “Well, like what?”
“ANTI-WESTERN GREATS”
Smith was convicted in November of eight offenses under the Official Secrets Act, including one charge of passing information to Chukhrov.
He also pleaded guilty to seven other charges related to gathering information that could be useful to the Russian state.
Smith denies intending to harm Britain, Morgan told the court, adding that he only wanted to cause “anxiety and embarrassment” in his guilty plea. He also denies receiving any payment.
However, the prosecution claims that Smith, who has told colleagues of his “strong anti-UK views” as well as his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has a “clear intention to harm the UK”.
Morgan said that Smith told his colleagues “anti-Western and NATO “opinion against” expressed and Russia and the president He spoke about his support for Vladimir Putin.
“It is about the war in Ukraine Ukraine expressed his views against his government and supporting Russia”, he added.
A hearing on how Smith will be punished is expected to take place on Friday judge Mark Wall is expected to make a decision on Wednesday.
Reporting by Sam Tobin; Edited by Alison Williams
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2023-02-14 14:06:41
Source – reuters
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