US EditionNew Zealand Soldier Convicted of Attempted Espionage, a First for the Country
The soldier admitted to handing over military maps, access codes, and base vulnerabilities to an undercover officer, marking New Zealand's first espionage conviction in history.
- On August 18, 2020, at a military trial held close to Palmerston North, a New Zealand serviceman confessed to charges of attempted espionage.
- The soldier was caught after attempting to hand sensitive military information to an undercover officer between December 5 and 12, 2019, believing the officer was a foreign agent.
- He provided phone directories and sought to pass maps, security vulnerabilities, access codes, and his own credentials that allowed unauthorized military system access.
- The soldier admitted charges of attempted espionage, dishonest system access, and possessing objectionable Christchurch mosque attack material, each carrying up to seven or 10 years in prison.
- This case marks New Zealand’s first military espionage conviction since a 1975 civilian acquittal and reflects ongoing military and government monitoring of extremist-related threats.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
61 Articles
61 Articles
According to the court-martial, the soldier offered military base maps and footage to an undercover officer from an unnamed foreign country.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources61
Leaning Left14Leaning Right6Center27Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
L 30%
C 57%
13%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
