A news report confirmed that a former security operative, previously employed at the U.S. Embassy, has been found guilty of espionage for both Russia and Iran.
The Associated Press reported that the 28-year-old Norwegian national, whose name remains undisclosed, received a sentence of three years and seven months on Wednesday.
At the time of the individual’s apprehension last November, a Norwegian police official reportedly informed Reuters that the suspect was employed at the American Embassy in Oslo, the capital of Norway.
The offered no immediate response to a request for comment on Thursday from Digital.
According to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, prosecutors contended that the individual divulged information, including particulars regarding the embassy’s diplomats, its layout, and security procedures. NRK also reported that the man was purportedly motivated to contact Russia and Iran due to American relations and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The AP stated that the suspect accepted the factual basis of the indictment while refuting any criminal culpability.
Defense counsel for the man issued a statement on Thursday, asserting that the judgment prompts inquiries concerning the definition of espionage within Norwegian legal framework.
“He misrepresented his security clearance to foreign agents and inflated his significance,” stated attorney Inger Zadig of Elden Law Firm to the AP. “His access level at the embassy was comparable to that of a janitor. The data he conveyed was inconsequential and possessed no capacity, individually or collectively, to jeopardize individuals or the national security interests of any country.”
The defendant was convicted on five counts related to espionage but cleared of severe corruption. His legal representatives are currently evaluating the possibility of appealing the judgment.
When apprehended last November, the man was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security and preparedness at UiT, Norway’s Arctic University.