The Bruges Council Chamber has ordered a 62-year-old businessman to stand trial for exporting sensitive technology to Russia, including goods that can be used in warfare.
The items include microchips, accelerometers, and turbine engines, all of which can be used in drones or missiles.
The suspect, Knokke-Heist resident Hans D.G., denies dealing in military equipment.
Following searches conducted on 5 December 2023, Hans D.G. was placed under arrest after being questioned by the investigating judge.
On the next day, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that the businessman faced legal actions in Texas and Oregon. In Texas, he is suspected of trafficking infrared cameras to China and electronic components to Russia between March 2016 and February 2018. In Oregon, he allegedly attempted to purchase accelerometers with the aim of reselling them to China.
The suspect’s company came under scrutiny following an investigation by Swedish authorities into a scheme involving the illegal sale of equipment to Russia, in which it reportedly played a part.
A Russian national residing in Sweden allegedly orchestrated the scheme, backed by Russian intelligence, to bypass certain embargoes against Moscow.
Additionally, a former employee of Hans D.G., Vladimir K., supposedly had ties with Russian intelligence services.
Hans D.G. claims he had no knowledge of these connections, with his lawyer, Bram Elyn, arguing that he never directly sold anything to Russia.
The Bruges Council Chamber has charged the suspect with leading a criminal organisation and illegal arms trafficking.
Vladimir K., a resident of Roeselare, and three Dutch suspects are also due to appear in court.
Hans D.G. will remain free under supervision until his trial. He has been under electronic monitoring since the summer of 2024 after spending seven months in pre-trial detention.
