Greek Air Force colonel remanded in custody for spying for China
A 54-year-old Hellenic Air Force colonel was ordered into pre-trial detention on February 10, 2026, following an eight-hour testimony regarding espionage charges for China. The officer, who served as a section chief at the Air Force General Staff, reportedly admitted to his actions while claiming he was initially deceived by a Malaysia-based consulting firm that approached him via LinkedIn. He identified his handlers as 'Steven Wayne' and 'William,' whom he met during a trip to Beijing in September 2024. Payments for classified information were allegedly made through a cryptocurrency wallet, though the colonel has not yet provided the access codes to authorities. During his statement, he insisted he acted as a 'lone wolf' without military accomplices and named three private-sector individuals involved in the network. He further claimed he was coerced through threats against his family after realizing the true nature of the operation. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and the potential revocation of his Greek citizenship under recent legislation.