Espionage scandal: Ex-Wirecard boss Marsalek and his accomplices exposed!

Espionage scandal: Ex-Wirecard boss Marsalek and his accomplices exposed!

A London court recently found three Bulgarian citizens guilty of espionage in the service of Russia. Under the influence of fugitive ex-Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek, the defendants operated between 2020 and 2023 and spied for Russia, including spying on an air force base in Germany. They face prison sentences of up to 14 years, but the sentence is still pending Tagesschau.de reported.

During the trial, London police counter-terrorism chief Dominic Murphy described the activities as an "extremely sophisticated intelligence operation" with a potential threat to national security. In addition to the already convicted perpetrators, two other Bulgarians pleaded guilty before the trial began. These defendants are said to have, among other things, spied on journalists and planned a fake protest in London vienna.at reported.

Espionage in the style of a thriller

In an incident described as "evidence straight out of a spy novel," video and audio recording devices were found in everyday items at the spy ring's hideout. Part of the plan also included using a “honey trap” to lure a renowned journalist critical of Russia. There were also kidnapping plots that could endanger the lives of individuals, similar to the Novichok attack in 2018. Marsalek was identified as an intermediary between Russian intelligence and the notorious espionage group, while he himself was not charged in the trial. He has been missing since the collapse of the Wirecard Group and is said to be in Russia.