A 44-year-old engineer identified as Werner Franz G. (in the photo) is accused of giving the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service secret documentation on helicopters produced by Eurocopter.
Photo: AP
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Eurocopter Engineer Admits Espionage
The trial of a former Eurocopter employee accused of spying for Russia began in Germany on Monday. According to investigators, the 44-year-old engineer, identified in the case as Werner Franz G., gave the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service secret documentation on the helicopters produced by Eurocopter. The suspect does not deny giving the Russian service the documents, but he denies that it constituted espionage, insisting that he gave out information only about civilian helicopters, the export of which to Russia is not prohibited.
Prosecutors say that the documentation on civilian helicopters the engineer provided could be used by the Russians to obtain information on military modifications of the models. Representatives of EADS, the parent company of Eurocopter, have stated outside the court that their information indicates that the engineer’s actions did not lead to any damage to the company.
The suspect began working at Eurocopter in 1992, Reuters reports. He met with agents of the Russian special services in Germany, Austria and Croatia between 2004 and 2006 and gave them the documentation in question at that time. He was paid ˆ13,000 for it. The suspect does not deny receiving the money either. He stated that he was experiencing financial hardship and wanted to open his own consulting firm.
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