Former Estonian high government official suspected in treason
22.09.2008, 12:28Former manager of security department in
the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Herman Simm, who is suspected in treason, was
arrested on Sunday by Harju County Court, mediates ERR.
State prosecution suspects former protector of state secret, Simm, to have
illegally collected classified information and giving it to foreign state, said
spokesperson of State Prosecution.
Simm's wife was arrested as well for helping his husband in treason. She did
not work in Ministry of Defense.
Simm led the security department until November 2006. Department's
tasks were organizing and coordinating the state secrets' protection in the
Ministry. After that Simm worked as a council in the ministry until March this
year.
As an authorized representative of state security, Simm represented
Estonia in EU and NATO and has participated in elaborating of information
defense system in both organizations.
He has led government delegations, which have made agreements of
protection of classified information with nearly twenty countries.
Simm began his career in the Ministry of Defense in 1995, when he
started working as a bureau manager in defense politics information analysis
department. State protection defense department was created in 2000 and Simm was
appointed to lead it.
Simm has previously worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a
criminal- and senior inspector, on different positions in Police Board and
finally became the head of it.
He has been decorated with White Star IV Class Orden and the Ministry
of Defenses' II class decoration. He also is a cavalier of Defense Forces cross
for special services and owns Distinguished Service Medal of information board
and memorial medal of police.
Criminal matter over Simm and his wife will be proceeded by State Prosecution
and Security Police. During the investigation they will cooperate with
Information Board and Ministry of Defense.
According to law treason will bring along 3 to 15 years in prison.