A Vienna jury found former Austrian intelligence officer Egisto Ott guilty of spying for Russia, sentencing him to four years and one month in prison. Prosecutors said Ott, 63, passed classified data-including a laptop with EU secure communication hardware-to Russian intelligence via Jan Marsalek, the fugitive former Wirecard executive now believed to be in Moscow.
Ott also obtained phones belonging to senior Austrian interior ministry officials after they fell into the Danube River, copying their contents for Moscow. He was found guilty of misuse of office, bribery, aggravated fraud, and breach of trust. Ott denied the charges, claiming he was working for a Western intelligence service. His lawyer has appealed.
The case has revived fears that Austria remains a hotbed of Russian espionage.