Canadian Ex-U.N. Official Detained in Switzerland on Espionage Charges

A former U.N. official from Canada specializing in North Korea has been detained in Switzerland under suspicion of spying, allegedly for China. This development, reported by media outlets including Der Spiegel and NK News, sees the official in pretrial detainment awaiting the completion of an investigation.

A Canadian former U.N. official, now specializing in North Korea, has been detained in Switzerland on espionage charges, reportedly for spying on behalf of China, according to media outlets citing unnamed intelligence sources. The investigative report was a collaborative effort by Der Spiegel, Tamedia, and NK News.

The Swiss attorney general's office has yet to comment. The suspect was a frequent traveler to China as an environmental consultant before his arrest in the spring, NK News reported. Despite the severity of the charges, the official's name remains unpublished as no conviction has been made public.

In his 50s and residing in Geneva, the former U.N. official has been in pretrial detention for several months, awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the Swiss attorney general's office. The situation continues to develop as authorities delve deeper into the case.

(With inputs from agencies.)