ABU DHABI // A man on trial for espionage passed on classified information on military ships docked in Abu Dhabi, a court heard on Monday.
M T B, 54, from India, is accused of passing confidential information to his country’s embassy.
The court heard from A M, a captain in State Security who said they received a tip that sensitive information was being leaked.
An investigation led them to the accused who worked as a port supervisor in logistics at an Abu Dhabi port.
“Through our sources our investigations showed that the accused was in touch with two intelligence officers,” he said.
“Public prosecution then issued a warrant for his arrest and questioning. We also monitored all of his communications.”
The judge asked the witness about the nature of the leaked information.
“The witness passed on confidential, important, national security information on foreign military ships that are docked in the UAE, and three European ships,” he said.
“The accused also gave the officers information on the location of Pakistani ships in the country, their movements and which ports they frequent.”
He said passing on this information was a matter of national security that could damage diplomatic relations with other countries. When asked about the accused’s motives, the witness could not provide proof of any compensation that might have been paid.
The captain said port guidelines were clear and the accused must have been aware that he was breaking the law.
He said the accused had spoken to the intelligence officers several times at their embassy, and at their homes a few times.
This month, an administrator at Mina Zayed was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined Dh500,000 for leaking classified information about the movement of navy ships to and from the capital.
“The defendant tried to leave the country after he heard of the arrest of someone who committed a similar crime,” the captain said yesterday. “He even sent his family back home to his country and rushed to let his informants know of what was happening.”
The case was adjourned until January 4 to give the defendant’s lawyer time to prepare his defence.
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
