Dutchmen Sentenced On Soviet Spy Charges

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 5

Dutchmen Sentenced On Soviet Spy Charges

(NZ.P.A-Beuter—Copynefti) KIEV, October 6. ( A Soviet military court imposed 13-year s prison sentences on two young Dutchmen con- ‘ victed yesterday of spying in the Soviet t Union, said tjie Associated Press. <

The verdiet and foe unexpectedly heavy sentences came after one of the defendants, Lou de Jager, aged 25, defiantly denounced Communism and said: “I played badly and I lost. I hope with God’s help I will be a good loser.” ' De Jager, a ship’s navigator. admitted having worked tor the Dutch Seoset Service tor the past two years. His companion. Evet Reidon. aged 30. a ship’s engineer, said he had been a spy for five years. They were caught in August at a Soviet-Czech border-crossing while posing as tourists. The sentences a;e the harshest imposed on foreigners for years—even the U2 spy pitot was given only 10 years. The prosecution had asked for the maximum 15 years. Defiant Statement The Court was hushed as de Jager made his defiant statement. He said: ‘‘You ask why I am here, and I must answer; Firstly I was attracted by the adventure, but it is not only this. “There is another factor —

i my Christian upbringing i and my Christian faith. ' “I consider the Communist < ideology as atheistic and. as < such, opposed to Chriittianiry : “I played the game, if you can call it a game, and I ' played it badly. If I return < to Holland, I would not re- ’ peat it.” Retdon appealed to the s Court for clemency because 1 of his wife and 18-montas-old son, who are in Holland. j Both men heard the sen- , fences impassively.