OMM Redaksiyası
Former German intelligence chief August Hanning has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason, in a case that could become one of Germany’s biggest spy scandals.
German newspapers “Bild” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported on Tuesday that federal prosecutors are investigating Hanning and a second suspect. Hanning headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005.
“Bild” reported that the allegations include obtaining state secrets, treason and espionage for a foreign power. It said Hanning paid a former member of the BND leadership staff for classified information and allegedly planned to resell it as part of his consulting work.
According to “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Hanning received secret material from the service years after leaving office through his former office director. Investigators are examining whether he passed the information to foreign powers, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper described the case as potentially one of the largest espionage affairs in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.
