Former official arrested for treason

TALLINN 's One of Estonia's former top security chiefs has been arrested on charges of treason in the first such case since the country regained independence.

An arrest warrant was issued for Herman Simm and his wife on Sunday at the request of the prosecutor's office. Simm, who formerly headed the Defense Ministry's security department, is charged with selling state secrets. 

"At the request of The State Prosecutor Harju county court arrested a former high ranking state official Herman Simm who is suspected of illegal collecting and communicating classified information for a foreign state," the prosecutor's office said in a press release.

Simm's wife also was arrested on suspicion of assisting her husband, a spokesman for the State Prosecutor's Office said.

The Baltic News Service has cited unconfirmed sources reporting that the official "betrayed his country for Russia." The Prosecutor's Office refused to comment on the information.

As head of the Defense Ministry Security Department, Simm was tasked with coordinating the protection of state secrets. The department is also responsible for issuing access to classified information and handling data from international organizations, including NATO, the European Union and Estonia's other defense partners.  

He also took part in the devising of EU and NATO information protection systems.

Simm started work for the Defense Ministry in 1995 as head of the information analysis office of the defense policy department. He was appointed head of the newly formed state secret protection department five years later.

He previously held various positions at the Interior Ministry and the Police Board, including as director general of the board.

This is the first case since the restoration of Estonia's independence of someone being declared suspect in treason.