'FBI agent sold info to KGB for 1.4 mn dlr, diamonds'

'FBI agent sold info to KGB for 1.4 mn dlr, diamonds'
T V PARASURAM

WASHINGTON, FEB 21: A veteran FBI agent, arrested on the charges of spying for Moscow since 1985, has been accused of selling information that damaged US Security and disclosing to the KGB the names of three of its men working for Washington in exchange for up to $ 1.4 million in cash as well as diamonds.

President George W Bush termed the spy scandal, the biggest to hit the US in the past four years, as "extremely serious and deeply disurbing".

"Allegations of espionage are a reminder that we live in a dangerous world, a world that sometimes does not share American values," Bush said warning that anyone who betrayed the trust posed by the agency would be brought to justice.

A combined FBI, CIA and US Justice Department sting operation led to the arrest of 27-year FBI veteran Robert Hanssen on Sunday.

If convicted, he could get death penalty and be fined up to $ 2.8 million, twice his alleged personal gain from espionage he has been accused of.

Hanssen, 57, was produced before Alexandria District Court where judge Theresa Buchanan read out the charges against him.

He declined to enter a plea at the hearing but his lawyer said his client intended to plead not guilty. Hanssen will next appear in court on March 5 at a preliminary hearing.

FBI Director Louis Freeh has termed the act "the most traitorous action imaginable" and said Hanssen had access to some of "the most sensitive and classified information in the US government" which he passed on to first Soviet Union, then to Russian intelligence agents.

"The trusted insider betrayed his trust without detection," Freeh said.