[ad_1]
5 former Austrian officers went on trial in Vienna on Friday accused of granting asylum to a suspected Syrian struggle felony in Austria on the request of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The 5 are accused of abusing their positions by bringing Khaled Halabi, a former Syrian basic, to Austria in 2015 and arranging asylum for him. 4 are former intelligence officers and one is a former asylum company official.
Halabi led the Syrian Basic Intelligence Directorate in Raqqa from 2009-2013. When insurgent forces captured Raqqa in 2013, Halabi fled to France, initially making use of for asylum there.
AUSTRIAN POLICE ISSUE TERROR THREAT WARNING FOR SYRIAN INSTITUTIONS IN VIENNA
Worldwide human rights teams have documented torture in Syrian services below Syrian President Bashar Assad, and allege that Halabi bears some duty.
Austrian authorities have additionally initiated felony proceedings in opposition to Halabi however haven’t indicted him. Halabi’s lawyer, Timo Gerersdorfer, advised The Related Press that Halabi is cooperating absolutely with Austrian authorities, and that his shopper isn’t responsible.
“He fled Syria with the assistance of the Free Syrian Military. If he had agreed with the Assad regime, he would have stayed in Syria,” he mentioned.
Based on an investigation by Germany’s Der Spiegel journal and Austrian every day newspaper Der Customary, the Mossad recruited Halabi, a member of the Druze minority in Syria, as an informant. The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to remark.
Prosecutors accuse the previous intelligence officers of breaching their duties to offer details about Halabi’s whereabouts and id, notably after a 2016 assembly on the Austrian Justice Ministry. At that assembly, representatives of the Fee for Worldwide Justice and Accountability offered proof that Halabi was suspected of implication in potential struggle crimes in Syria and mentioned France had initiated an investigation in opposition to him for potential “systematic torture.”
A trial for 5 former Austrian officers accused of granting asylum to a Syrian struggle felony has begun. (Fox Information)
Prosecutor Ursula Schmudermayer advised the Vienna state courtroom that Austrian intelligence officers had travelled to Tel Aviv in March 2015 to fulfill Mossad brokers. She mentioned the Israeli brokers knowledgeable the Austrians that the Syrian basic was in France however that “cooperation with France isn’t working as that they had envisioned,” in order that they needed Austria “to step in.”
The Mossad supposed to proceed questioning Halabi in Austria, the prosecutor mentioned, and paid 5,000 euros ($5,500) monthly to assist harbor him in Austria.
The indictment states that Martin W., who was a senior agent in Austria’s home intelligence company, the BVT, on the time, concluded a “cooperation settlement with a overseas companion intelligence service” on Might 6, 2015. The settlement contained particulars on convey Halabi from France to Austria and help him in making use of for asylum, in accordance with the indictment.
Martin W. was absent because the trial opened Friday as a consequence of well being points however the others have been current. They answered brief procedural questions however didn’t testify.
Their attorneys argued that the defendants acted appropriately as a result of all particulars concerning the cooperation settlement with the Mossad have been labelled as “strictly confidential,” which means that the brokers weren’t allowed to reveal the operation to different state our bodies.
VIENNA COURT CONVICTS ALLEGED ACCOMPLICES IN 2020 ISLAMIC STATE SHOOTING
In addition they argued that the cooperation settlement with Israeli intelligence helped Austria acquire info that might not have been potential to obtain in every other method. On the time, Europe confronted the arrival of huge numbers of refugees from the Syrian civil struggle and an elevated terrorist menace.
Prosecutors accused the previous asylum official, Gerald W., of manipulating the asylum process to allow Halabi’s asylum utility in Austria although Halabi had already utilized for asylum in France. His lawyer advised the courtroom that Gerald W. acted in good religion, trusting info given to him that Halabi was at risk in France.
The trial is scheduled to run by subsequent Friday. It was not instantly clear when the courtroom would possibly difficulty verdicts.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The defendants can solely be partially recognized below Austrian guidelines.
[ad_2]
Source link
