New Zealand Military Personnel Faces Two-Year Confinement for Alleged Spy Attempt
Soldier Under Open Arrest Faces Historic Court Martial
In a unprecedented event, a soldier stationed at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North is currently facing a court martial, marking the first spying conviction in New Zealand's history. The soldier's identity has been suppressed in the proceedings, but it is known that the individual was charged by New Zealand Police in December 2019.
Since his arrest, the soldier has been living on an army base in a military house, under a curfew during his time under open arrest. The soldier earned more than US$230,000 (NZ$400,000) on full pay during this period, spending all but six days under open arrest as per the New Zealand Defence Force.
The prosecution read out an agreed summary during the court proceedings, detailing the soldier's actions. It was revealed that the soldier gave military base maps and photographs to an undercover officer posing as an agent for a foreign nation. The identity of the foreign nation involved has been permanently suppressed by the military court.
The soldier's actions are still under investigation, and he is facing charges for attempted espionage, accessing a computer system for a dishonest purpose, and knowingly possessing an objectionable publication. The soldier admitted to these charges, and it was discovered that he had copies of a livestreamed video of the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.
The soldier's background has raised concerns, as he became a person of interest following the Christchurch attack due to his membership in right-wing extremist groups. Despite these circumstances, the soldier went on to get married during the time he was under open arrest and welcomed two new children into the world. His wife is expecting a third child.
During monitoring, the soldier indicated a desire to defect to a third party. It is unclear what the outcome of the court martial will be, but the case is expected to set a significant precedent for New Zealand's national security. The court martial is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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