Federal prosecutors stated final month that three German nationals had been arrested on “robust suspicion” of working for Chinese language intelligence providers.
They recognized one of many trio as Thomas R, with out revealing his full title, in a press launch printed when the arrests had been made on April 22. The opposite two had been listed as married couple Herwig F and Ina F.
German media retailers stated the trio ran an organisation referred to as “Good Metropolis Verein”, or “Good Metropolis Affiliation” in English.
The organisation’s web site lists Thomas Reichenbach, Herwig Fischer and Ina Fischer as contacts and states the affiliation goals to hunt extra environment friendly transport options by “progressive ideas”.
Reichenbach’s social media additionally confirmed he had labored as a advertising supervisor on the Hong Kong Commerce Improvement Council (HKTDC) since July 2022. It was not instantly clear when he stopped working for the organisation.
Responding to the Submit’s inquiries, a council spokesman stated: “A former worker is below investigation for his alleged private exercise. In keeping with our data, the HKTDC just isn’t the topic of that investigation.”
It declined to offer any additional particulars.
German prosecutors stated final month that Thomas R stood accused of appearing as an agent for an worker of China’s Ministry of State Safety, the nation’s secret service department.
He was suspected of acquiring details about progressive applied sciences in Germany that had potential army purposes, they added.
All three suspects are accused of gathering delicate industrial information which may doubtlessly develop “China’s maritime fight energy”.
The trio additionally allegedly purchased a particular laser in Germany on behalf of Beijing’s secret providers, which paid for the machine, and exported it to China with out authorisation.
Ines Peterson, a spokeswoman for Germany’s Workplace of the Federal Prosecutor, declined to verify Thomas R’s full identification or present additional updates on the case.
Final month’s press launch from German officers stated the three suspects had appeared in courtroom as a part of additional authorized procedures.
In keeping with native media, at the least two of the suspects stay in custody.
