Image via iStockMUNICH German authorities have arrested a former spy for Germany's secret service over suspicions that he was involved in intelligence agent activities for China.A press release by the prosecutors stated that Klaus L., a man whose name is not known, allegedly provided information to the Chinese secret services for nearly a decade beginning in 2010.He was also an informant for Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) at the time. German public broadcaster ARD reported the man, now 75 years old, had provided information to the BND for 50 years. He also lived a double lifestyle.He was known as a political scientist and worked for the Hanns Seidel Foundation, a political research foundation closely linked to the Christian Social Union (CSU), Angela Merkel's sister party in Bavaria from the 1980s through retirement. Since 2001, he has been the head of a think-tank.According to the prosecutors, the suspect was taken into custody Monday on the grounds of May charges.He traveled extensively abroad as part of his work. Hanns Seidel Foundation stated to ARD that it was unaware of the BND activities.According to the prosecutors, he was in Shanghai to give a lecture. He was then approached by members from a Chinese intelligence agency to gain his cooperation.The prosecutors statement said that the defendant continued to provide information to the Chinese intelligence services up to and after state visits, multinational conferences or current affairs.According to ARD the suspect whose house was searched in November 2019 didn't deny he had spy for China but maintained that he had informed the BND about his contacts with the Chinese at least initially.
