Former Krah Employee Sentenced for Spying for China

A former employee of Maximilian Krah, a Bundestag member from the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison due to his involvement in espionage activities on behalf of China. The Dresden Higher Regional Court ruled that Jian G. engaged in severe intelligence-gathering activities over a period of at least 17 years.

The court found that Jian G. collected sensitive information and provided it to Chinese authorities, including details concerning dissidents. The prosecution characterized this case as one of the most serious instances of Chinese espionage uncovered in Germany to date.

Between 2019 and 2024, while working in Krah's office in the European Parliament, Jian G. was able to access and relay confidential documents due to Krah sharing his personal access credentials. The court highlighted that Jian G. had been presented with information 'on a silver platter' by Krah, who was a member of the International Trade Committee, which made it easier for Jian G. to gather data.

Jian G. also compiled personal information regarding AfD leadership and internal party matters, creating documents in Chinese that indicated the information was intended for the Chinese intelligence services rather than for Krah.

Additionally, the court noted that Jian G. had been spying on Chinese exiles since at least 2007, with the aim of identifying individuals opposing the Chinese government.

During his final address, Jian G. maintained his innocence, claiming he had not worked for any Chinese intelligence agency. His defense attorney called for a dismissal of the charges due to lack of substantial evidence.

While the prosecution had sought a sentence of seven and a half years, the judges settled on a lesser penalty. Nonetheless, the Federal Prosecutor expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

Alongside Jian G., Yaqi X., a Chinese national believed to be his accomplice, was also on trial. She worked at a logistics company at Leipzig Airport and was accused of providing data related to cargo, flights, and passengers. The court considered the airport, which serves both the Bundeswehr and NATO, a prime target for espionage activities. Yaqi X. admitted to sharing information but claimed she was unaware of any espionage operations. The court deemed her admission a partial confession and sentenced her to a suspended sentence of one year and nine months.

The verdict is not yet final, as an appeal can be filed with the Federal Court in Karlsruhe within a week.

Krah expressed that he was not surprised by the court's decision and emphasized that he had already taken measures to enhance security in his office following Jian G.'s arrest. He stated that his goal was to uncover the activities that had made him a victim, which he felt had been partially achieved through the trial.

It is important to note that Krah is currently under investigation by the Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office for bribery and money laundering related to payments from China during his tenure as a European Parliament member. He has denied these allegations.