The two suspected spy brothers Peyman, 42, and Payam Kia, 35, are both convicted of aggravated espionage.
Peyman Kia is sentenced to life imprisonment – for aggravated espionage and unauthorized position. Payam Kia, sentenced to 9 years and 10 months in prison for aggravated espionage.
– It’s full pot for the prosecutor. The evidence is considered so solid that they acted together and in agreement. It has been a matter of enormously serious abuse of trust on the part of the older brother, says Johanna Björkman, lawyer.
According to chief councilor Måns Wigén at the Stockholm district court, the motive for their crime was to enrich themselves financially.
Worked at Säpo and Must
The information handed over must have been obtained through Peyman Kia’s work at the Security Police and the Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must) at the Armed Forces. The younger brother Payam Kia is alleged to be the one who mainly managed the contacts with the GRU.
– It is unusual for serious espionage to be investigated. It is even rarer to be prosecuted for it. What differs is the position this spy held. Peyman has worked in the absolute most secret parts of Sweden. It has been about the innermost core of Swedish intelligence, says Jamshid Jamshidi, crime reporter TV4 Nyheterna.
Details of the deeds
The prosecutor’s allegation of aggravated espionage contains several elements of the offense:
– Peyman Kia has acquired approximately 100 documents (from the security and intelligence services and within the framework of his employment at Säpo and the Armed Forces).
– The documents contained information whose disclosure to a foreign power could entail
but for Sweden’s security.
– Peyman Kia has obtained the documents without authorization.
– Peyman Kia has procured the documents to go to Russia and the Russian intelligence service GRU (direct intent).
– Peyman Kia has promoted and disclosed the documents with the same intention.
– Payam Kia has participated in the planning of the deed and managed the contacts with Russia and the GRU, including questions about handing over information and receiving compensation.
The older brother appeals
The elder brother Peyman Kia’s lawyer Anton Strand has spoken with his client after the verdict.
– Against my client’s denial, the district court has sentenced him to the harshest possible punishment, so we will appeal, says Anton Strand to TV4 Nyheterna.
The younger brother Payam Kia’s lawyer Björn Sandin has not yet spoken to his client.
– If you are sentenced against your denial, it is in the nature of things that you want to appeal, says Björn Sandin to TV4 Nyheterna.
In the player above: Legal expert Johanna Björkman analyzes the verdict