Australian businessman allegedly given envelopes of cash from Chinese spies for information

Court told Alexander Csergo was paid to prepare reports on Australian defence arrangements, but lawyer says documents were ‘not necessarily sinister’

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A well-educated, sophisticated Australian businessman received envelopes of cash from suspected Chinese spies in exchange for handwritten reports on Australia’s foreign alliances, a court has been told.

Alexander Csergo, 55, is accused of accepting money from two spies dubbed “Ken” and “Evelyn” in exchange for reports on Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements while he worked in China during Shanghai’s extended Covid-19 lockdown.

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