The Military Tribunal of Rome has sentenced Walter Biot to 30 years, the naval officer accused of espionage for having given secret information and documents to an official of the Russian Embassy in Italy in exchange for money.
The judges recognized the generic extenuating circumstances.
During his speech, the defender, the lawyer Roberto De Vita, stated that "Biot had no chance to defend himself. The one we are dealing with is not a normal process. We will continue this battle until Walter Biot is honorably reinstated in the Navy. The sentence is expected in the evening".
The Military Prosecutor's Office of Rome has requested a life sentence for the naval officer, Walter Biot, accused of espionage for having given, in March 2021, classified documents to an official of the Russian Embassy in Italy in exchange for money.
During the indictment, the prosecutor reconstructed the story also referring to the photos in which Biot is immortalized while taking pictures of the office PC screen and a series of documents with his mobile phone.
ANSA agency
Biot and those 181 screenshots given to the Russians - Chronicle
The photos of the top secret documents sold to the Russians, the suspects of Colonel Zearo and the cameras in the office that framed him (ANSA)
"Among the 19 documents photographed by Biot there were some NATO secret, very confidential, and one Top secret".
According to the prosecution representative, "Biot traded in secret documents" and demonstrated "a high degree of infidelity and criminal capacity, but also sad venal gain. The cunning with which he wanted to conceal his action. That of March 30 of 2021 was just that discovery, but there may have been others."
ANSA agency
Who is Walter Biot, the Italian officer arrested for espionage - Chronicle
He was a non-commissioned officer in the Navy and became an officer following an internal competition (ANSA)