Jian Guo worked for several years until last year in Krah's office in Brussels during the time Krah (2019–2024) served in the European Parliament. Krah is now a member of the German parliament. During the trial, Krah stated that he was unaware of the espionage activities of his former employee and denied any involvement.
According to the indictment, Guo, who holds German citizenship, has worked for a Chinese intelligence agency since 2002. The indictment states that he used his position in Brussels to gather intelligence on European affairs. The court in Dresden found the espionage proven and handed down a prison sentence.
Throughout the trial, Guo maintained his innocence and denied working for a Chinese intelligence service. He reaffirmed this denial in his final statements. Nevertheless, the court weighed the collected evidence and transmitted information more heavily.
A second suspect, identified as Yaqi X., is also involved in the broader criminal case. She worked for a logistics company providing services at Leipzig Airport. At the start of proceedings, she admitted passing on information about flight schedules and cargo movements. The contact line between her and Guo was considered by the prosecution as part of the espionage network.
The picture presented in court was that Guo not only followed political processes but also maintained contacts granting him access to operational data. The link with airport information—regarding cargo, flights, and logistics—was part of the method by which information was gathered and passed on. Guo’s role in this was deemed central by the court.
The prosecutors demanded seven and a half years in prison for Guo, citing the duration and seriousness of the activities. The defense asked for acquittal, among other reasons because Guo denied any involvement with an intelligence agency. The court ultimately imposed a lower but substantial sentence, upholding the core of the indictment and legally establishing guilt.
In parallel with the espionage case against Guo, an investigation is underway into Maximilian Krah himself. He is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering and accepting bribes from Chinese sources during his time as an MEP. Earlier this month, his parliamentary immunity was lifted, and offices in Berlin, Brussels, and Dresden were searched. Krah denies the allegations and calls them politically motivated.