Court orders German ex-spy chief kept in jail after spying, treason arrest
A German court ordered former BND chief August Hanning, 80, and his ex-chief of staff, identified only as Manfred D., to remain in custody on suspicion of espionage and treason. Prosecutors allege Hanning illegally obtained roughly 2,000 secret files after leaving the agency to become a private consultant, possibly passing information to foreign intelligence contacts, while Manfred D. allegedly supplied him the files while still employed at the BND.
Hanning's lawyer admits his client held confidential documents but denies he passed information to the detriment of Germany or took payment for it. Reports name an Azerbaijani intelligence operative as a possible client, a claim Azerbaijan's government has called disinformation, while German officials say the full extent of any damage remains unverified.
The case surfaced through an unrelated investigation into steakhouse heiress Cristina Block, accused of arranging her own children's kidnapping; Hanning allegedly connected her with a private security firm run by ex-Israeli intelligence operatives linked to the abductions, and allegedly received over 100,000 euros for his role.
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