Unauthorized Access: Employees Gaining Entry to Krah's Account
In a shocking turn of events, Maximilian Krah, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP), finds himself at the centre of an espionage scandal. His former employee, Jian G., is currently on trial for allegedly spying for China while working in Krah's MEP office from 2019 to 2024.
Krah, who won the direct mandate in the Chemnitz Surrounding - Erzgebirgskreis II constituency in the February federal election, has been a member of the Bundestag since then. However, the prosecutor's office has requested that his immunity as a member of the Bundestag be lifted.
The indictment claims that Jian G., during their employment, collected information and passed on partially confidential documents to Chinese authorities. Tasks such as managing access rights, sorting emails, and appointments were delegated to Jian G., giving them unrestricted access to Krah's personal accounts. The password for these accounts was the same for everything and was changed every six months.
Jian G. is also accused of gathering personal information about the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leadership and surveilling Chinese dissidents. According to the indictment, Jian G. had been an employee of a Chinese intelligence agency since 2002.
In a separate proceeding, another trial is ongoing, involving a suspected accomplice, Jaqi X., a Chinese national who worked at Leipzig Airport. Jaqi X. is accused of providing Jian G. with data on flights, cargo, and passengers, particularly regarding the transport of military goods.
Krah, in his defence, has stated that he was unaware of Jian G.'s membership in the Chinese Communist Party. He described Jian G. as an "overseas Chinese" who was dissatisfied with the Chinese government but appreciated its economic progress. When asked about possible payments from Jian G. to him, Krah invoked his right to refuse to testify.
Despite the ongoing investigations, Krah served as a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2025, serving on committees for international trade, human rights, security and defense, and the delegation for relations with the USA.
As the trial unfolds, it remains to be seen how this scandal will impact Krah's political career and the wider implications for German-Chinese relations. It is worth noting, however, that Krah did not receive any warnings from German or European authorities about a potential threat from Jian G. before the employee was hired.
