It reads like a John le Carré novel, but the stakes are terrifyingly real. Egisto Ott, a former Austrian intelligence chief, is facing judges in Vienna, accused of selling his country’s deepest secrets to Russia for a payout of €80,000 (approx. KSh 12.8 million).

The trial, which began on Thursday, has exposed the underbelly of European espionage. Prosecutors allege that Ott, 63, systematically dismantled Austria’s intelligence firewall, handing over classified data to Russian operatives. At the center of the web is Jan Marsalek, the fugitive former executive of the collapsed payment firm Wirecard, who is believed to be pulling the strings from Moscow.

"Not Romantic, Just Greedy"

The prosecution painted a picture not of an ideological defector, but of a desperate man driven by greed and professional frustration. "He was not romantic about Russia," the prosecutor told the court. "He was broke, angry, and he sold us out."

Ott is accused of using his position to look up the locations and travel details of Russian dissidents and handing them over to the FSB. In one chilling instance, he allegedly tracked down a target who was later assassinated in Berlin.

• The Charge Sheet: Abuse of office, supporting a foreign intelligence service, and compromising national security.
• The Defense: Ott pleaded not guilty, claiming his actions were part of authorized covert operations that went wrong.
• The Wirecard Link: Jan Marsalek, once a celebrated tech CEO, is now revealed as a key asset for Russian intelligence, using Ott as his eyes and ears in Vienna.

A Warning to the World

The trial is a stark reminder of the reach of Russian intelligence in Europe. For the intelligence community, the breach is catastrophic. "If they can turn a spy chief in Vienna, they can turn anyone," noted a security analyst.

As the details of the KSh 12.8 million payoff emerge, the question is no longer just about one man’s guilt, but about how easily national security can be bought in the 21st century.