Interpreter for Dutch intelligence service jailed for leaking information

An Ad

Integrate business news on your website free of charge and offer your visitors up-to-date content! Click here for more information.

As reported two weeks ago, the interpreter Outman ben Amar, who was employed by the Dutch intelligence service AIVD, was accused of leaking information related to an investigation to suspected terrorists.

He has now been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for leaking state secrets. The interpreter's lawyers said they would be filing an appeal. "The Public Prosecutor's office is also considering a similar move on the grounds that the jail term was considerable lower than the one it had sought. The court decided on a lower sentence because it did not find that the charge of publication of state secrets had been proved," the website of Radio Netherlands informs.

Outman ben Amar has maintained that he is innocent throughout. "Analysis of his handwriting and DNA material are believed to have provided the key evidence which led to his conviction. However, this is based on the information which has been made public. Much of the evidence against the interpreter-translator came from the AIVD's own information which, in turn, is classified as 'secret' and was not openly disclosed in the proceedings."

Radio Netherlands writes that nothing was known about Outman ben Amar's motives for passing on information to third parties. He is regarded as a moderate Muslim, he is a university graduate and had no previous criminal record. Before joining the AIVD he had worked for the government's Immigration and Naturalisation Service.

Source: Radio Netherlands

Related Article: Interpreter accused of leaking information to terrorists