December 20th 2024.
A married couple has been accused of spying on Australia for Russia, and they are currently being held in custody while awaiting their trial. The prosecution has requested more time to translate the electronic devices that were seized as evidence. This has caused a delay in the proceedings, which may prompt the defense to file for bail on behalf of one of the accused.
The accused are Kira Korolev, a 40-year-old Australian Army private who was born in Russia, and her husband Igor Korolev, a 62-year-old self-employed laborer. They were arrested in Brisbane in July, and it is alleged that Kira traveled to Russia without informing the authorities while on leave from the defense force in 2023. She is also accused of instructing her husband on how to access sensitive information from her work account and send it to her private email while in Russia.
The couple has been charged with preparing for an espionage offense and has been remanded in custody. Their case was briefly mentioned in court, where the prosecutor requested an adjournment until March 7. This was due to the large amount of evidence that needs to be translated, which was only disclosed this week. The Korolevs were not present in court, and their lawyer accepted that more time was needed for translations.
However, the defense raised concerns about the significant amount of time the couple has already spent in custody, and the potential for even more delays. They suggested that this may lead to a bail application, as it is a difficult situation for the accused. The magistrate agreed that this may be the only way to address the lengthy time in custody and adjourned the case until March 7.
The couple has yet to enter a plea, and if found guilty, they could face a maximum of 15 years in prison for preparing for espionage offenses. They have been living in Australia for about 10 years and were married when they arrived. The defense has indicated that they will continue to fight for their clients and will explore all options to secure their release. The Korolevs will remain in custody until their next court appearance.
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