An employee at ABB Power Systems in Sweden, a leader in the production of DC electricity and one of Sweden's more advanced high-technology companies, has been accused of spying - possibly for Russia.
As Swedish and German security police continued investigations into the affair, security consultants believed that a lot of damage may have already been done. ABB, a Swedish/Swiss electronic giant, controls 80 per cent of the world market in DC electricity. It has successfully expanded into data and IT. The man, in his 50s, has been accused of serious espionage since 1979. Originally from Germany but considered Swedish, security experts believe the East Germans may have recruited him first. A security expert, Mr Joakim von Braun, says the interest in espionage in high-tech companies has increased. Soviet and Russian intelligence services have always had an interest in many of the ABB companies, according to Mr von Braun.
"We have in the past expelled many Soviet and Russian spies," he said but added it was unusual to catch "one of our own" in Sweden. He believed many companies falsely assumed espionage died with the fall of communism. "There are many interested groups since the growth in technology sector. We have 15 members of intelligence organisations operating in Sweden, from the KGB to the CIA," said Mr von Braun, who now hopes that companies will focus more on security.
The director general of the Swedish security police, Mr Jan Danielsson, told The Irish Times that no charges have yet been made against "the suspect accused of spying on behalf of a foreign power".
There were insinuations by some politicians and media that Russia was behind the affair. President Putin is due to visit Sweden in less than a month for the EU Stockholm summit.