Denmark’s former overseas intelligence leader has been officially charged with leaking extremely categorized knowledge.
Lars Findsen is accused of showing state secrets and techniques and confidential paperwork to 6 other folks — together with two newshounds — over quite a few months.
The knowledge dates again to when he headed the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) from 2015 till he used to be suspended in August 2020. He has rejected the allegations.
“It is, of course, serious when secrets or other confidential information, which is essential for the intelligence services’ work to protect Denmark’s security, is passed on to outsiders,” prosecutor Jakob Berger Nielsen stated in a commentary.
“It can damage the relationship with the intelligence services’ business partners, and it can make it more difficult for them to carry out their work if their working methods are revealed,” Nielsen added.
“The trust that the intelligence services can care about sensitive information is weakened.”
The charges come after “a long and extensive investigation” by way of police and Denmark’s home intelligence carrier, which Findsen had additionally led from 2002 to 2007.
The prosecution has stated it’s going to request a jail sentence of “lower than 4 years” and has requested for any trial to be held at the back of closed doorways.
