New Zealand's Director of Military Prosecutions, Brigadier Lisa Ferris, has laid 17 charges against a New Zealand soldier, including multiple counts of espionage, attempted espionage, accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes, and possessing an objectionable publication. The charges will be tried in the Court Martial of New Zealand, which is a standing court of record, presided over by a civilian Judge with military members as the triers of fact. This appears to be the first occasion that such a charge has been laid in modern New Zealand history. The only previous comparable case was a charge brought (unsuccessfully) against a senior public servant under the Official Secrets Act in the 1970s, for allegedly passing secrets to the KGB.
Not a good couple of weeks for the armed forces "down under". Watch this space for developments...
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