(AFP) A Vienna court on Monday acquitted four ex-officials of allegedly granting asylum to a Syrian former general suspected of crimes against humanity in the latest case to throw the spotlight on Austria’s spy service.
The three former intelligence agency officials and a former asylum agency official were accused of abusing their office to procure asylum for Khaled al-Halabi, who served as head of state security in the northern city of Raqa from 2009-2013.
In 2016, an international non-profit organisation tipped off Austrian authorities about war crimes allegations against al-Halabi after locating him in Vienna.
He was allegedly granted asylum under a deal with Mossad, Israel’s secret service.
