The National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTEKK) in cooperation with the BIS detained a person suspected of espionage for China. This is one of the first cases dealt with under the new criminal code. The accused is facing prosecution for unauthorized activity on behalf of a foreign power, but information about the case is currently under strict secrecy.
Last week, on Saturday (January 18), Czech criminal investigators arrested a person suspected of espionage for China. This was announced on the social network X on Thursday by the police and the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), with which the police cooperated, reports TASR in Prague.
- Czech police officers detained a person suspected of espionage for China.
- The intervention took place in close cooperation with BIS and the National Central Office.
- The accused person faces the crime of unauthorized activity for the benefit of a foreign power.
“On Saturday, January 18, in the morning hours, a person suspected of belonging to the Chinese intelligence service was detained by the Police of the Czech Republic. This person was subsequently accused of unauthorized activity for a foreign power. The entire operation was carried out with the close and highly professional cooperation of the BIS and the National Center against Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime (NCTEKK),” said the Czech counterintelligence agency.
Unauthorized activity for a foreign power
The right to provide any information about the case is reserved by the Supreme State Attorney’s Office in Prague, which supervises it.
The criminal offense of “unauthorized activity for a foreign power” has been in the Czech Criminal Code since January of this year. It affects cooperation with a foreign power with the purpose of damaging the interests of the Czech Republic, its defense, security or the interests of organizations of which the Czech Republic is a member. Its adoption was mainly motivated by the deteriorating security situation at the international level. However, the formulation was criticized by several politicians and organizations. They mainly pointed out that the new legislation is vaguely written. Currently, the ruling ANO movement has been talking about wanting to abolish it.
