A German national, Jian Guo, who formerly assisted Maximilian Krah, a prominent member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for espionage on behalf of China. Guo worked in Brussels for Krah, a member of the European Parliament, for five years until 2024.
The court in Dresden revealed that Guo had gathered sensitive information and confidential documents to submit to Chinese authorities, a practice that has escalated fears related to China's espionage operations within the European Union. Presenting his case, Guo consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he did not work with Chinese intelligence, while Krah stated in court he was unaware of any allegations against Guo until they were reported in media outlets.
The prosecution accused Guo of engaging in espionage with Chinese intelligence since 2002, which included spying on Chinese dissidents and opposition figures in Germany. While his defense consistently denied these charges, the court labeled the case as especially serious based on the evidence presented.
It was revealed during the trial that Guo had been acting as a handler for another Chinese national working at Leipzig airport, who was also implicated in spying activities. This national had received a suspended sentence after confessing to providing information about cargo, flights, and passengers.
Maximilian Krah, reacting to the verdict, mentioned he had enhanced security measures in his office following Guo's arrest. Additionally, Krah himself is currently under investigation by the Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged corruption and money laundering related to his role as a European Parliament member.
