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12:02 a.m.: An Italian navy captain was found guilty Thursday of selling secrets to Russia and sentenced by a military tribunal to 30 years in jail, Reuters reported.
Walter Biot, 56, was arrested in 2021 as he was handing information to a Russian embassy employee in a Rome car park.
Italy subsequently expelled two Russian diplomats and accused Biot of selling documents, including classified NATO documents, for $5,280.
His lawyer has said Biot did not hand over any sensitive material and announced Thursday he would appeal the verdict. The military prosecutor had sought a life term.
“Biot traded in secrets and was caught in the act,” the prosecutor said Thursday. “He displayed a high degree of disloyalty and criminal ability, but also sorry greed.”
