25-Year-Old M'sian Student Arrested In Norway For Allegedly Spying On Their Government
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has pleaded not guilty during initial police questioning.
By May Vin Ang — 12 Sep 2023, 06:12 PM
A 25-year-old Malaysian student in Norway has been detained by local authorities on suspicion of espionage, such as illegal eavesdropping
According to New Straits Times, the Norwegian police intelligence agency, Politiets Sikkerhetstjeneste (PST), has charged the man with spying on the prime minister's office, the defence ministry, and other government offices in Oslo.
Local media reported that he was arrested after he was caught on surveillance cameras driving around outside government offices in a rental car, while allegedly trying to tap into their electronic communications on Friday night, 8 September.
The man was reportedly already under PST surveillance before being arrested. The police have also confiscated various data-carrying devices and electronic items from the suspect, which will undergo further investigation.
Norway's defence ministry was among the government offices believed to be a target of alleged spying.
Image via NewsinEnglish.noThe man was charged in court with espionage and intelligence operations against the Nordic country on Sunday, 10 September
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has pleaded not guilty during initial police questioning.
PST also said the suspect has claimed to be a student, but is not enrolled in any Norwegian educational institution, nor has he been living in Norway for a long time.
Norwegian authorities have stressed that they do not believe the Malaysian authorities are behind the man's alleged spying. They suggested that he holds a passport of convenience, but have also not stated which country they believe he might be working for.
The court has ordered the 25-year-old to be held in custody for at least four weeks while the investigation continues
State prosecutor Thomas Fredrik Blom told Norwegian Broadcasting that the suspect will also be kept in isolation for the first two weeks to prevent him from reaching out to others.
The authorities believe the suspect was not operating alone.
"We don't quite know what we're facing. We are in a critical, initial, and vulnerable phase of the investigation," he was quoted as saying.
"There's such danger of tampering with evidence that we're being very careful with what we can reveal right now," he added.
