Spy Says He Was Double Agent

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30443, 18 May 1964, Page 13

Spy Says He Was Double Agent

(N Z.P A -Reuter—Copyright) STOCKHOLM, May 17. A Swedish Air Force Colonel, Stig Wennerstroem, on Friday told the Court trying him on spy charges that he had been a double agent before he worked for the Soviet Union.

Ashen-faced and nervous, the once-debonair Colonel said he regretted that so much of the five-weeks trial had been held in camera but that he would not disclose what had been said in closed session.

The verdict is to be announced on June 12. The chief prosecutor has demanded the maximum sentence of hard labour for life. The defence counsel (Mr C. E. Lindahl) said Wennerstroem acted for ideological reasons and at first tried to penetrate Soviet espionage for America. He turned to spying only after his promotion in the air force had been blocked. He asked for a sentence of not more than 12 years’ hard labour. "It is not easy for ordinary people to understand Wennerstroem and his reasons. Wennerstroem's reasons were not economic ones. He did not lead a luxurious life,” said Mr Lindahl.

He added: “He has not sold his country. His reasons were ideological ones. His ambition was to serve the cause of peace. The ambition to serve peace erased Wennerstroem’s national ties.”

The chief prosecutor (Mr W. Ryhninger) said: "Wennerstroem's spying was the most serious that could affect Sweden.- It has had serious consequences for the whole of our total defence. “It is inconceivable how one person could have caused so much damage,” said Mr Ryhninger. Prosecution counsel said Wennerstroem obtained information for the Germans in World War II as long as the Germans looked like winning

and had brought off one of his biggest coups for the Russians as early as 1949. “He wanted to demonstrate his unusual potential as an informer. The Russians recognised his' weakness and were unstinting with flattery and money,” said Mr Ryhninger.

Wennerstroem himself later addressed the Court, saying: “The Soviet peace line and the idea of co-existence are honestly meant The future will tell whether 1 am right or wrong.

“After 14 years* experience of Russian security services 1 can say there was no interest in an attack on Sweden. I therefore have cause to hope that the harm I have caused Sweden will never be felt”