Polish Ex-Security Official Charged With Spying For China During Government Service

By Bojan Pancevski and Natalia Ojewska 

WARSAW -- A former senior Polish intelligence official, arrested here with a Huawei Technologies Co. employee last week, has been charged with spying for China while he worked in government with top-level access to Polish and allied intelligence, according to an official familiar with the matter.

Last week, Polish authorities arrested the ex-official, currently employed by French telecommunications carrier Orange SA, along with the Huawei executive. They have both been charged with espionage. Polish officials didn't provide further details about the case, making it unclear until now whether they thought the former official, Piotr Durbajlo had been spying before leaving government service.

Between 2000 and 2017, Mr. Durbajlo worked in a series of posts with high security clearances, giving him access to sensitive communication and databases including information shared between allies like the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Attorneys for both men weren't available to comment.

Huawei fired the arrested employee, Wang Weijing, over the weekend and said his alleged actions had nothing to do with his employment at the company.

The Chinese telecom-equipment maker is in the middle of a global firestorm over accusations by the U.S. and some of its allies that its gear poses a security risk because the company may be compelled by Beijing to help it spy overseas. Huawei has denied it spies for any government.

The arrest in Poland was the latest high-profile setback amid Huawei's efforts to defend itself. Last month, Canadian officials arrested Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, at the U.S.'s behest, on allegations she lied about Huawei's business ties in Iran. Ms. Meng has denied the charges.

Write to Bojan Pancevski at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 15, 2019 13:15 ET (18:15 GMT)

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