Peyman Kia once served in one of Sweden’s most top-secret intelligence bodies
STOCKHOLM, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Swedish brothers accused of selling secrets to Russia’s intelligence services have gone on trial in what has been called one of Sweden’s worst ever alleged cases of espionage.
Peyman Kia, 42, who previously worked for Sweden’s security services and army, and Payam Kia, 35, are accused of spying for Moscow over a 10-year period.
Both men deny wrongdoing, and Peyman Kia’s lawyer insists prosecutors do not have enough evidence for a conviction.
Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist described the case as unique, telling Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT the country had not seen anything like it “in over 20 years”.
Much of the trial is being held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the information being discussed.
In the months before the two brothers’ arrest in late 2021, investigators seized mobile phones, a smashed hard drive, several other storage devices and notes detailing cash and gold transactions.
Meanwhile, a man in his 60s has been remanded in custody after he and his wife were arrested on last Tuesday – suspected of serious intelligence crimes.
Public prosecutor Henrik Olin said the man was linked to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, and the case covered “technical acquisition for the Russian military-industrial industry”.
He was suspected of carrying out “gross intelligence activities” against both Sweden and the US, and the FBI had been assisting the investigation, Olin added.
His wife was released on Thursday, but remains a suspect.
The couple reportedly moved from Russia to Sweden in the 1990s. — NNN-AGENCIES
