Zürcher Nachrichten - Far-right German MP's ex-aide faces verdict in China spy case

The main defendant, Jian Guo, worked as a Brussels-based staffer for Maximilian Krah of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party when Krah was an MEP between 2019 and 2024.

Prosecutors say Guo, a German national, worked for Chinese intelligence from 2002 and used his position in Krah's office to gather intelligence on European affairs and the AfD.

Krah, now an MP in Berlin, testified to the court this month that he had been unaware of allegations against Guo and had employed him because of his language skills and experience of running an import-export firm.

Guo is also accused of having been the handler for a second alleged operative, a Chinese national identified as Yaqi X., who is also on trial accused of spying on German defence companies.

At the start of proceedings, Yaqi X., who worked at a firm that provided Leipzig airport with logistics services, admitted she had passed on information to Guo about flight schedules and cargo movements.

Prosecutors have demanded seven-and-a-half years in jail for Guo, and two years and nine months for Yaqi X.

The defence has asked the court to acquit Guo and to give Yaqi X. a suspended sentence.

Yaqi X. is accused of collecting information on military planes, troops and drones, including those being sent to Israel.

- Offices searched -

Separately, Krah is under investigation on suspicion of money-laundering and taking bribes from Chinese sources during his time as an MEP.

News weekly Der Spiegel has reported, citing the investigation file, that the AfD politician had allegedly received more than 50,000 euros ($58,700) from companies close to Guo between 2019 and 2022 alone.

Krah was elected as a German MP in February's general election, but earlier this month parliament lifted his immunity as part of the corruption probe.

As a result, Krah's offices in Berlin, Brussels and the eastern German city of Dresden were searched along with his home, and documents and electronic devices were seized, according to prosecutors.

He has denied all allegations and has labelled them as "politically motivated".

Krah was initially the AfD's top candidate for last year's European elections but was excluded from the party's delegation after causing an uproar with comments that minimised the crimes of the Nazis' notorious SS.

However, he was welcomed back into the AfD fold and now sits in the party's bloc in parliament.

E.Schneyder--NZN