Man charged with assisting Russian intelligence service in UK

[Celerity]

Howard Phillips, 64, of Essex, was arrested by counterterrorism officers last week and due to appear in court on Thursday

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/man-charged-assisting-russian-intelligence-service-uk-court-xg5dtwhf0

https://archive.ph/wgLaP



A man has appeared in court charged with disclosing sensitive details about an MP to undercover police officers posing as members of the Russian intelligence service. Howard Phillips, 64, from Harlow in Essex, is accused of assisting the Russian intelligence service contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act (NSA). He was arrested on May 16 in central London on suspicion of “intending to materially assist a foreign intelligence service carrying out UK-related activities”.

Mark Luckett, the prosecutor, told Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday that Phillips had held “sensitive information in regards to an MP” that he had passed to people “who he believed were foreign powers”. The MP was not named in court. Phillips, who wore a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

The charge alleges Phillips booked a hotel on behalf of a foreign intelligence service and bought and set up a mobile phone to be used by a foreign intelligence service. It says that he allegedly acquired personal details about an MP and disclosed them to a foreign intelligence service. Judge Daniel Sternberg remanded Phillips in custody before a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on June 14.

The Metropolitan Police said: “As part of the investigation, which is being led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, officers also searched an address in the Hertfordshire area and an address in the Essex area. Both searches are now complete. “The arrest is not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to NSA offences, and there is not believed to be any threat to the wider public in connection with this matter.” The National Security Act was brought in last year to target people working in secret within the UK for hostile states.

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