A German court sentenced Jian Guo to four years and nine months in prison on Tuesday after convicting him of espionage for China. Guo worked as an aide to Alternative for Germany lawmaker Maximilian Krah from 2019 to 2024, when he was arrested by authorities in April. Prosecutors established that he transmitted details about European Union Parliament proceedings to Chinese intelligence services while monitoring Chinese dissidents and collecting data on AfD politicians.
The Higher Regional Court of Dresden also handed down a suspended sentence of one year and nine months to Yaqi X, identified as Guo's accomplice. Yaqi X worked at a logistics company near Leipzig airport and gathered intelligence about military equipment shipments and personnel connected to German arms manufacturers. Prosecutors alleged Guo acted as her handler, but Yaqi X denied awareness of espionage operations.
Krah testified as a witness and stated his entire staff could access his personal accounts and documents. German parliament members voted this month to lift Krah's immunity regarding allegations of corruption and connections to Chinese spying. Krah rejected the accusations as politically motivated attacks.
The Higher Regional Court of Dresden also handed down a suspended sentence of one year and nine months to Yaqi X, identified as Guo's accomplice. Yaqi X worked at a logistics company near Leipzig airport and gathered intelligence about military equipment shipments and personnel connected to German arms manufacturers. Prosecutors alleged Guo acted as her handler, but Yaqi X denied awareness of espionage operations.
Krah testified as a witness and stated his entire staff could access his personal accounts and documents. German parliament members voted this month to lift Krah's immunity regarding allegations of corruption and connections to Chinese spying. Krah rejected the accusations as politically motivated attacks.
