Vienna: Former Austrian intelligence official Egisto Ott (63) has been convicted in one of Austria’s biggest espionage trials in recent years for allegedly spying for Russia.
A court in Vienna found Ott guilty of passing sensitive information and police database records to Russian intelligence-linked individuals, including fugitive Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek.
Ott, who denied the charges, was sentenced to four years and one month in prison. His lawyer has filed an appeal against the verdict.
Prosecutors stated that Ott illegally collected confidential data between 2015 and 2020 and allegedly shared it with Russian intelligence representatives in exchange for money.
The case has renewed concerns over Russian espionage activities in Austria and Europe.
DPCI International Desk reports that the high-profile conviction has intensified security debates regarding foreign intelligence influence and espionage operations within European institutions.
