Communist “Spies” Down Under, Sometimes Get Caught, Mostly, Not By James Reed
Well, at least one “spy,” if that is the right word, has been caught selling Australian defence, economic and national security secrets to two foreign spies working for communist China. But the real issue in my mind, never discussed in the public forums, is what happens when China war occurs, and Australia is part of the US team? What happens locally, since among the trillions of migrants, undoubtably super-duper folk, there would surely be some CCP agents or three?
“A man has been charged with selling Australian defence, economic and national security secrets to two foreign spies working for the People’s Republic of China.
Alexander Csergo, 55, was arrested by Australian Federal Police at Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs late on Friday and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference, a charge that carries a 15-year jail term.
He is only the second person in Australia to face a foreign interference charge since legislation targeting alleged foreign interference was introduced in 2018.
Mr Csergo, an Australian citizen who lives and runs a business in China, was arrested after he returned to Australia from abroad.
He wore the same clothes he was arrested in as he appeared via AVL at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday morning.
He said: “Good morning, your honour,” as he appeared on the screen.
The solicitor for the commonwealth DPP asked the matter be adjourned for Monday at the Downing Centre for a release application.
The alleged offence was committed between February 1, 2021, and April 14, 2023, in Shanghai in China, NSW, and elsewhere, according to the charge sheet.
“The defendant, Alexander Csergo, did … intentionally engage in conduct in circumstances where the conduct was engaged in, on behalf of, or in collaboration with and/or directed, funded or supervised by persons acting on behalf of a foreign principal, namely ‘Ken’ and/or ‘Evelyn’,” it states.
“And the defendant was reckless as to whether the conduct would support intelligence activities of a foreign principal, and a part of the conduct was covert or involved deception.”
The arrest came as part of a Counter Terrorism Taskforce Investigation instigated by Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, ASIO.
The AFP alleged Mr Csergo had been approached via social media by an unnamed individual who claimed to be from a think tank. The approach is alleged to have happened offshore when Mr Csergo was allegedly invited to meet the unnamed individual’s representatives.
Police further allege that he then met with two spies, who used the anglicised names Ken and Evelyn.
“The AFP will allege the two work for a foreign intelligence service and are undertaking intelligence collection activities,’’ police said in a statement.
ASIO and the Five Eyes partners have been warning about persistent and sophisticated attempts by the People’s Republic of China to access details of Western countries’ defence and national security capabilities.
He is believed to work as the president of global innovation and transformation at a company called Conversys, a digital solutions company headquartered in Shanghai, China.
The company’s website says it has previously worked with several major companies, including Australian telcos Optus and Telstra. Another social media profile under the name Alexander Csergo says he has worked for both those companies, as well as Hyatt Hotels in Australia.
The Conversys website says Mr Csergo has 30 years’ experience in data analytics. “Alex began his career in the telecommunications infrastructure industry; by 25 he started his first VC-backed company,’’ it says.
“He began his career in China in 2002.’’
The website says Mr Csergo has worked for major companies including Daimler, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Audi and Volkswagen Group China in telecommunications infrastructure, and had won 40 international awards for his work.
Media reports in 2014 note that a man named Alexander Csergo had been hired by luxury cosmetics firm Estee Lauder to improve their market presence in China.
The AFP alleged Ken and Evelyn offered Mr Csergo money “to obtain information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements, plus matters relating to other countries.’’
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