German intelligence officer denies spying for Russia at treason trial

An officer with Germany's foreign intelligence service BND facing treason charges for allegedly spying for Russia has denied the accusations in court on Wednesday, reported dpa.

The trial against Carsten L, a 53-year-old official who worked at the BND since 2007, has been under way for months. But the denial, voiced in court by L's defence attorney, marks his first comments in the case.

"The accused did not want to and did not betray the BND," L's lawyer, Johannes Eisenberg, told the court in Berlin.

Prosecutors allege that L was paid €450,000 by Russia's FSB secret service for betraying German secrets. He is currently on trial alongside 33-year-old businessman Arthur E, who allegedly acted as a courier ferrying documents and money to spymasters at the FSB.

E was allegedly paid €400,000, according to prosecutors.

Both men, who have been identified only by their last initials under German court privacy rules, are being held in custody during the proceedings.

On Wednesday, L's defence lawyer disputed the allegations against him, as well as testimony from his co-defendant. He denied that clandestine meetings had occurred or that secret documents were handed over.

He also contended that a large amount of cash seized from a bank safe deposit box was private savings set aside by Carsten L and his wife, and not money paid by the Russians.

E's defence lawyers presented their client's side of the story during proceedings in January and February.