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Denmark’s former intelligence chief has been formally charged with leaking highly classified information.
Lars Fenderson allegedly “disclosed state secrets or other particularly classified information” to six people, including two journalists, prosecutors said.
The leaked material is said to have originated from work at the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency, which Finsen was in charge of in 2015.
He was suspended in August 2020 and detained in December last year on suspicion of leaking Remand in January.
Prosecutor Jacob Berger Nielsen said in a statement on Friday: “It is of course serious when secret or other classified information is leaked to the outside world where secret or other classified information is essential for the intelligence services to keep Denmark safe.
“This can damage relationships with intelligence business partners, who make their jobs more difficult if their working methods are leaked – just as trust in the intelligence community to care about sensitive information is eroded.”
The allegations follow a “long and extensive investigation” by police and Denmark’s national security and intelligence agency, the Police Intelligence Service, which Finsen had previously led from 2002 to 2007.
The details of the allegations are unclear as the case is being played behind closed doors – meaning it is being kept under wraps.
Finson had previously protested his innocence, calling the situation “complete insanity.”
“I wish to bring charges and I plead not guilty,” he told reporters at a hearing in the Danish capital in January.
If Finderson is convicted, prosecutors plan to seek a sentence of at least four years in prison. A trial date may not be open to the public, but has not yet been set.
Findsen was appointed head of the Danish Ministry of Defence while working for the Police Intelligence Service and the Danish Defence Intelligence Service.
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