A former Dutch F-16 pilot suspected of espionage had more state secrets in his possession than he previously admitted to, according to public prosecutors in The Hague on Tuesday. The additional information was discovered in a container on its way to the United Arab Emirates.
The prosecutors accuse the suspect – known for legal reasons simply as Chris V. – of deliberately lying about this matter, an accusation refuted by the defence lawyer.
The material includes files and CD-ROMs. Apart from one document which he claims to have "kept for the love of the job" the pilot argues the material is not significant. "In the Air Force even the toilet paper was classified" he said.
The pilot was arrested last April and stands accused of leaking state secrets to a colonel from Belarus. He admits having spoken to the colonel but says state secrets were never mentioned.
(dd/imm)
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