Member of the European Parliament Maximilian Kraa at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. AP/Jean-Francois Badias
As reported by Tagesschau
In Dresden, a verdict was delivered in a case related to spying for China that involved the former aide to AfD deputy Maximilian Kraa. The court found Jian G., a German citizen, who periodically worked in the politician’s office during his tenure in the European Parliament. Together with him, the Chinese woman Ya Ki H. was convicted, receiving a suspended sentence of almost two years.
Case circumstances and the role of the defendants
According to investigators, Jian G. had long cooperated with Chinese intelligence and used his position in Maximilian Kraa’s office to gather intelligence on European affairs and the AfD’s activities. Ya Ki H. worked for a logistics company in Leipzig and passed to Jian G. information about flight schedules and cargo movements; later these data were passed to Chinese intelligence.
The materials collected related to military aircraft, defense forces, and unmanned systems, particularly regarding which aircraft and equipment could be involved in shipments to Israel.
As for Maximilian Kraa himself, who currently serves as a member of the Bundestag, it should be noted that he denies any knowledge of his aide’s espionage activities. According to prosecutors, the politician was allegedly hired because of his language skills; however, criminal proceedings continue regarding possible bribes from China during his time in the European Parliament.
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