JUST IN: Malaysian national has been arrested in Norway under the suspicion of espionage, as reported by Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wisma Putra, Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, has confirmed the arrest and is closely monitoring the situation. The Malaysian Embassy in Stockholm has initiated contact with Norwegian authorities in Oslo to gather more information regarding the case.
In a statement released today (September 12th), the Foreign Ministry assured that they would stay vigilant and oversee the development of the case. They have also expressed their commitment to providing the necessary consular services should they be required.
Source: Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The incident involves a 25-year-old Malaysian student who was apprehended in Norway on suspicion of espionage, including allegations of illegal eavesdropping through various electronic devices. Norway's domestic security agency, known as PST, disclosed that the suspect was arrested on Friday (Sept 8th) and charged with espionage and intelligence operations against the Nordic country on Sunday (Sept 10th).
PST lawyer Thomas Blom emphasized the preliminary nature of the investigation, stating, "We don't quite know what were facing. We are in a critical, initial and vulnerable phase of the investigation." The charges against the suspect include the use of technical installations for illegal signal intelligence.
Authorities have seized numerous electronic devices with data-carrying capabilities from the suspect, all of which are currently undergoing investigation by PST. Although the suspect is a student, it is reported that he is not enrolled in any educational institution in Norway and has been residing in the country for a relatively short period.
The suspicion arose when the suspect was allegedly caught conducting unauthorized signal surveillance in a rental car near prominent Norwegian government offices, including the Prime Minister's office and the defense ministry. As per a court decision, the individual has been remanded in pretrial custody for four weeks and has been prohibited from receiving letters and visits. Security officials have also indicated that the suspect may not have acted alone.
Source: The Star
