Army's 'spy who leaked secrets to Iran'

General David Richards (right) listens to his interpreter, Corporal Daniel James,(rear) in Kabul, Afghanistan
13 April 2012

This is the senior British army aide who is accused of spying.

Daniel James is pictured standing behind General David Richards, the British commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, for whom he worked as an interpreter.

He appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday accused of divulging secret information to "the enemy".

It was not stated in court who "the enemy" was but sources indicated he had passed information to Iran.

The court proceedings were held in camera because of, according to the judge, a "possible prejudice to national security", so no details of who he was were read out in court.

But details emerged later and it was revealed that he lived in an £800,000 house in Brighton.

Neighbours said his mother spoke only Farsi, which is the main language of Iran.

James is said to be of Iranian descent and speaks fluent Pastun, the main language in Afghanistan, making him an important member of the Army team over there.

He appeared in court yesterday charged under the Official Secrets Act.

Dressed smartly in a quilted jacket, he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth before the charge was read to him by the clerk of the court.

It alleges that on 2 November this year, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety of the state, he "communicated to another person information calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy".

The charge is under section one(1) (C), of the Official Secrets Act 1911.

No further details about the allegations were released.

Reporters were then asked to leave the court as the hearing was continued in camera.

After allowing reporters back into the court, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said: "I have been given certain information which leads me to the conclusion that it will be necessary to hear certain facts in camera as there is a possible prejudice to national security."

When the hearing was reopened to members of the media, Mr Workman said he had heard "detailed submissions" and he was satisfied that, if these were made public, there would be a risk of prejudice to national security.

James was remanded in custody until 27 December. There was no application for bail.

Last night, the Ministry of Defence, the Crown Prosecution Service and Scotland Yard all refused to confirm the details of his identity and the charges against him published in newspapers.

Gen Richards commands 31,000 troops, including special forces, and has regular contact with President Hamid Karzai.

An officer said: "The driver or interpreter would have no official access to documents but a lot of generals use drivers as a sounding board and as someone neutral to talk to."

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