OSLO: A Norwegian man facing accusations of spying on behalf of China appeared in an Oslo court on July 2 and will be detained for an initial four weeks, said a police official.
The man was arrested on July 1 by the Norwegian Security Police Service (PST) at Oslo’s airport upon his return from a tour to China.
PST lawyer Thomas Blom told reporters after the hearing, that they arrested a Norwegian citizen on July 1 in a serious intelligence activity, benefiting China.
Blom refused to provide more details of the case, saying police were in an early phase of the investigation, but added the suspect had tried to spy and the data-carrying devices are the evidence in the case.
The detained man claims to be innocent, said his lawyers. Marius Dietrichson told Reuters that his client rejects the allegations that he is a spy for China.
The PST In its latest annual threat assessment report, said China would pose a significant intelligence threat to Norway.
It added this is mainly due to the deteriorating ties between China and the West, China’s desire for increased control over supply chains, and positioning in the Arctic region.
Anxiety about alleged Chinese spying has increased across Western Europe in recent months. Arrests have included an aide to a German member of the European Parliament, three other German citizens in a separate case, and two men in the UK, one of whom was reported to have worked as a parliamentary researcher for a lawmaker in the governing Conservative Party.
In March, the US and Britain blamed Beijing for cyberespionage against millions of people including academics, lawmakers, journalists and firms such as defence contractors.
Chinese officials have dismissed the various espionage accusations terming them as hype to discredit China.
