Russian-born Australian citizens have been arrested on suspicion of obtaining military information to share with Moscow.
Australian authorities have accused a soldier and her husband of spying on behalf of Russia.
The couple, a 40-year-old army soldier and a 62-year-old self-employed worker, are accused of obtaining material from the Australian Defense Force to share with Russian authorities, Australian police said on Friday.
The pair, both Russian-born Australian citizens, are due to appear in court on Friday to face a charge of preparation for an espionage offense after they were arrested at their Brisbane home the previous day, police said.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, under legislation introduced in 2018.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told a news conference that the army soldier had undertaken “undeclared trips to Russia” and instructed her husband in Australia to log into his official work account at their home.
“We allege that her husband had access to the requested material and sent it to his wife in Russia. We allege they sought this information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities,” Kershaw told reporters.
Kershaw said “no significant commitments” had been identified.
Mike Burgess, head of spy agency ASIO, said security screening of personnel was not foolproof and that authorities were able to uncover the alleged spying plot due to “defence and security awareness”.
Burgess said several countries were trying to steal Australia’s secrets and that espionage was “real.”
“We cannot be naive and we cannot be complacent. Espionage is not a strange notion, espionage harms our economy and degrades our strategic advantage,” Burgess told reporters.
“It has catastrophic consequences in the real world. Foreign intelligence services are capable, determined and patient. They play the long game. The problem for them is that ASIO does this too.”
Burgess also said he wanted to “speak directly” to Russian intelligence agents who might have information to share, invoking the 1954 defection of Soviet spies Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov to Australia.
“If you want to share your secrets, get in touch. ASIO is always listening,” he said.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
