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The security police suspected for years that there was a mole at the heart of the intelligence service – but they failed to stop the spying.
Now Peyman Kia, 42, and his brother Payam Kia, 35, are accused of selling defense secrets to a Russian contact in exchange for dollars and gold.
It appears from the investigation that Russia is suspected of having obtained quantities of top-secret reports – and Säpo’s entire personnel list.
According to prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, the top-secret spy investigation went on “for quite a long time” without anyone having any idea about those who leaked from Säpo.
– There were indications that there was a person within the authorities who could be a spy and based on that, the preliminary investigation worked to try to map who it could be, the prosecutor told Aftonbladet.
But on January 16, 2017, one person could be targeted: Peyman Kia.
At the time, he was employed as security manager at the Swedish Food Agency, and for several nights, Säpo’s investigators got into his safe, computers and service rooms at the agency. His bank account was also checked time and time again.
But no sufficient evidence was found then.
Only after 4 years and 8 months did they have enough on their feet for an arrest and on September 20, 2021, Säpo attacked Peyman Kia in a dawn raid.
The preliminary investigation shows that he has read many sensitive intelligence reports from the Security Police and the Armed Forces for which he lacked authorization.
It also appears that he handled a file that contained a “complete personnel list” of the employees of the Security Police.
Among the tasks was to support and produce documents for Säpo’s management but also during periods to “run cases”. In addition, according to the preliminary investigation, he is said to have retained authorizations for areas he no longer worked with, which provided additional transparency, and he also worked as a supervisor for new Säpo employees, which gave him access to their material.
Before Peyman Kia left Säpo, the reading frequency of sensitive reports must have increased, and among these reports there is material that was considered particularly sensitive within the authority:
– That is an extra sensitive and extra secret matter. You should not search for this type of information and should you happen to come across it, you should immediately go to your immediate manager and tell them what happened, says a Säpo employee in questioning.
The security police state in a press release that the man worked for them in 2014-2015, but the preliminary investigation shows in several places that he was also employed there in 2007-2011.
In interrogates a former Säpo colleague about how he had been out and about with Peyman Kia on “operations” but that he was later amazed that Kia sought contact with him after the employment ended.
Peyman Kia also worked at the Military Intelligence and Security Service Must where he is said to have read volumes of reports for which he was not authorized, according to the preliminary investigation, where it is established that the reports were handled on a computer that was manufactured after he left Must.
– It is completely insane, there is absolutely no reason and in that case Peyman has had this information after he left us. This should not happen, says a Must manager in questioning.
Large parts of the preliminary investigation are classified, but some of the suspected methods to escape Säpo’s counter-espionage appear:
The security police suspect that Peyman Kia used so-called “dead mailboxes” where spy material can be left and later picked up by another person. In this case, it was about public toilets in the Uppsala area.
A spy camera was found at Peyman’s brother Payam Kia, which is supposed to imitate a car key.
Both brothers have encrypted a lot of material on computers and USB sticks and after Peyman Kia was arrested, Säpo’s detectives were able to follow how the younger brother destroyed a hard drive which he then threw in a bin. Parts of the hard drive could later be recreated.
The security police and prosecutors claim that the two brothers sold the material to Russia and Vladimir Putin’s military spy agency GRU.
In the preliminary investigation, most things about Russia are masked as secrecy, but in a note from the younger brother, he writes about a failed meeting with “Rasski”, who the prosecutors believe is the Russian contact.
Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist does not want to reveal how much money it is suspected that the brothers earned from their business. As evidence, the investigators point to Peyman Kia handling at least 380,000 kroner in cash, dollars, only during the period 2016-2017. They also point to handling of gold to “hide” transactions.
– In our opinion, it is only part of the whole, but we have a clear idea of how much this is about, says Mats Ljungqvist.
Peyman Kia’s lawyer Anton Strand says that his client “denies everything that is put against him”.
– He denies crime. As can be seen, he has worked in a very complex environment and has done his very best and denies that he has done anything wrong.
The time in custody with severe restrictions has been trying, according to the lawyer.
– A detention period of over a year with severe restrictions is, of course, very exhausting for all people. It has been a frustrating time for him.
Aftonbladet has sought Payam Kia’s lawyer Björn Sandin.
Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist does not want to answer whether there are any additional suspects in the investigation or whether any person from the Russian embassy has been expelled, declared “persona non grata”, due to the investigation.
– For reasons of principle, I do not want to comment on it, he says.
The two brothers face life in prison if convicted of the charge of aggravated espionage. The trial is expected to begin next week in the Stockholm district court.
