Denmark’s former intelligence chief has been formally charged with leaking extremely categorized info.
Lars Findsen is claimed to have “disclosed state secrets or other particularly confidential information” to 6 individuals, together with two journalists, prosecutors allege.
The leaked materials is claimed to have originated from Findsen’s time on the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, which he took cost of in 2015.
He was suspended in August 2020 and detained in December final 12 months over the alleged leaks, earlier than being remanded in custody in January.
Prosecutor Jakob Berger Nielsen mentioned in an announcement on Friday: “It is, after all, severe when secrets and techniques or different confidential info, which is crucial for the intelligence companies work to guard Denmark’s safety, is handed on to outsiders.
“It can damage the relationship with the intelligence services’ business partners and it can make it more difficult to carry out their work if their working methods are revealed – just as the trust that intelligence services can care about sensitive information is weakened.”
The prices observe a “long and extensive investigation” by police and Denmark’s nationwide safety and intelligence company, the Police Intelligence Service, which Findsen beforehand led from 2002 till 2007.
Details of the fees are unknown because the case has been carried out behind closed doorways – that means it’s shrouded in secrecy.
Findsen has beforehand protested his innocence, branding the scenario as “complete insanity”.
“I want the charges brought forward and I plead not guilty,” he informed reporters at a listening to within the Danish capital in January.
Prosecutors are planning to request a jail sentence of not less than 4 years is imposed if Findsen is discovered responsible. A date for the trial, more likely to be closed to the general public, has but to be confirmed.
Findsen was appointed head of division at Denmark’s Ministry of Defence in between working for the Police Intelligence Service and Danish Defence Intelligence Service.
Source: information.sky.com”