Developments are intensifying in the espionage case involving a 54-year-old air force commander who was sending classified information to China using specialized software, as he reportedly met with his Chinese handler in Athens. The ERT report appears revealing, as the Chinese spy was allegedly traveling to another European country for a conference, but made a stopover in the Greek capital to meet with the detained air force commander, who is scheduled to testify on Tuesday, February 10. Authorities are investigating whether he handed over classified documents. The air force commander was approached by a Chinese alleged agent, 9 to 14 years younger than him, during a trip to Beijing. The latter, according to information, managed to convince him to cooperate and over time asked him for classified documents.
Read: Espionage case: The perfect profile of the air force commander – What he wrote about cybersecurity
Air force commander espionage case: The mobile phone and payments
As reported, the air force commander had a series of meetings with his Chinese handler -whom the US reportedly knows about- in Beijing. That’s where he received the phone with encrypted applications. He took this with him to China -and on it the transmission of two classified documents was discovered- as his first phone had to be placed in a locker outside the office, as required by security protocol for his entry into his service, at the G4 office of the general staff. According to ERT, the remittances (in euros, dollars and cryptocurrencies) were monthly and quarterly, ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 euros, depending on the classification level of the secret documents, while larger amounts may not be ruled out. Some of the remittances have already been identified. The currencies varied, as payments, besides euros and dollars, were also made in cryptocurrencies.
ERT also reports that the Armed Forces have launched an investigation to find accomplices. Specifically, it states: “Security authorities and special investigators from the GEETHA Cybersecurity Directorate have identified a ‘shadow man’ who was pulling the strings in the espionage case. His profile is being outlined as the net tightens around him and his relationship with the 54-year-old Air Force officer is being investigated under strict secrecy.
The officer reportedly sold classified information to his Chinese handler since October. Authorities are investigating whether the shadow man recruited him. Two more individuals are in the crosshairs, with information suggesting two retired military personnel who reportedly maintain communication channels with China and similar ‘handlers’, like the one who communicated with the Air Force officer. One of them, according to information, has a working relationship with Chinese aviation. Authorities are moving carefully and discreetly until they collect all evidence and complete the puzzle, as was done with the air force commander”.
How deleted files were recovered
The 54-year-old air force commander was arrested suddenly in his unit’s office, as he was commander of the 128th Communications Squadron in Kavouri. The team knew, as emphasized on ERT, exactly what it wanted to do. Specifically: “The Cybersecurity Directorate teams brought with them electronic device detection equipment and with it found a second mobile phone that the Armed Forces officer had not declared, as he was obligated to.
This phone was taken by a specialized officer and while the others questioned the 54-year-old, he began recovering files that the air force commander had deleted, as well as evidence related to his illegal activity. Many material transmissions had been made from this device, while illegal financial activity also appeared. Meanwhile, investigation into cryptocurrencies is also underway.
The 54-year-old air force commander transmitted Armed Forces documents and plans to his Chinese handler using the second phone, photographing classified information and sending the documents to Beijing using encrypted software”.
