Israel to try official accused of spying for Iran

Raas - Former Israeli minister Gonen Segev, who is accused of spying for Iran, is slated to stand trial in Jerusalem al-Quds on Thursday.

News ID: 438543

Date: 04 July 2018 - 23:49

RNA - Segev, arrested last month, has been charged by Israel's security apparatus Shin Bet with "aiding the enemy during a time of war, spying and transferring secret information to the enemy."

On Wednesday, the prosecutors released a heavily redacted version of the indictment against Segev, which included a number of details not previously shared with the public.

They claim that Segev passed "dozens of reports" to Iran.

This is tantamount to “aggravated espionage,” which is a more severe form of the crime of espionage in Israeli law, the indictment stated.

The prosecutors also said Segev “carried out various missions when he was asked,” but the details of the alleged missions were redacted.

According to Shin Bet, the former minister had been working for Iranian intelligence services from 2012 and had met with them in a number of countries.

The agency claims that Segev had also traveled to Iran to meet Iranian intelligence officials and handed over sensitive information about Israel.

Citing "security experts," Israeli media said some of the material Segev had passed on to Iran might have lost significance over the years. But there is still cause for concern as the minister had "extremely important" information on people with whom he had personal relationships in Nigeria.

He had obtained the information from his time serving as Israel's energy minister between 1992 and 1995. Segev allegedly helped Iranian officials locate bases and institutions vital to Israeli's military establishment.

He also revealed the identity of Israeli intelligence officials, something the regime has always tried to keep secret. The indictment said Segev was asked to serve as an agent for Iran and he knowingly did so.

A doctor by profession, Segev served in the Israeli Knesset before making his way to the cabinet.

The former minister served a five-year term in an Israeli prison after being convicted in 2005 of smuggling drugs and forging a diplomatic passport.

According to Press TV, Segev lived in Nigeria until last month. He was arrested in Israel after being deported from Equatorial Guinea, where he moved to in May.

Israel’s Hadashot news claims that Segev initiated the contact with Iran by “knocking on the door” of the Iranian embassy in Nigeria “to offer his services.”

847/940