Australian spy avoids jail in East Timor espionage scandal

A former Australian spy has been released from court with a three-month suspended prison sentence over his attempt to help East Timor prove that Australia spied on the fledgling nation during multibillion dollar oil and gas negotiations

CANBERRA, Australia -- A former Australian spy was released from court on Friday with a three-month suspended prison sentence over his attempt to help East Timor prove that Australia spied on the fledgling nation during multibillion dollar oil and gas negotiations. The former spy publicly known as Witness K and his lawyer Bernard Collaery had been charged in 2018 with conspiring to reveal secret information to the East Timorese government. Former East Timor President José Ramos-Horta are among leaders of the impoverished half-island nation of 1.5 million to urge Australia to drop the persecutions. K pleaded guilty on Thursday at the beginning of a two-day sentencing hearing in the Australian Capital Territory Magistrates Court. The public and media were excluded when classified evidence was discussed.