[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Japanese authorities have opened a case against a Russian national, formerly employed at the Russian Trade Representation in Japan, and a Japanese employee of a machine tool manufacturer for violating Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

According to NHK and Kyodo News on January 20, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police identified the suspects as a Russian man, ex-employee of the Russian Trade Representation in Japan, and a Japanese staff member of a machine tool manufacturing company in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Police believe the Russian national is affiliated with the scientific and technical intelligence unit of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, categorizing the incident as a classic case of espionage.

The Russian national is alleged to have obtained trade secrets, including plans for new products, from the Japanese employee in November 2022 and February 2023. He reportedly posed as a Ukrainian citizen and approached the employee in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, under the pretext of asking for directions.

Over a period of more than two years, he allegedly exchanged various pieces of information in return for hundreds of thousands of yen and reportedly returned to Russia in March of last year.

Authorities are investigating the possibility that the stolen technical information could be used for military purposes.

 

 

 

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