A former CIA analyst, Asif William Rahman, has pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified National Defense Information (NDI) to unauthorized individuals. Rahman, aged 34 from Vienna, Virginia, worked for the CIA since 2016 and had access to sensitive government documents, including those marked Top Secret. He was charged with two counts of illegally transmitting NDI after his arrest in Cambodia in November 2024.

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Rahman admitted to unlawfully sharing classified documents and is set to be sentenced on May 15, 2025, with the possibility of receiving up to 10 years in prison.

Unauthorized Document Sharing and Cover-Up Attempts

Court records reveal that Rahman took sensitive documents from his CIA workstation in the spring of 2024. These documents, classified at the Secret and Top Secret levels, were hidden inside a backpack and transported to his home. Rahman then reproduced and altered the documents to conceal their origins before passing them on to unauthorized individuals.

Additionally, Rahman shared at least 12 Top Secret documents, including two printed on October 17, 2024, about U.S. military actions against a foreign threat. He also edited and photographed the documents, which were later circulated online. These leaked files were reportedly linked to Israel’s alleged plans to strike Iran, though country names were not explicitly mentioned.

The documents made their way onto social media, with a Telegram account, Middle East Spectator, spreading the information.

Attempted Cover-Up and Deletion of Evidence

Rahman further tried to erase traces of his actions by deleting files and altering his personal records, including work products. He even fabricated journal entries to cover up his conduct, trying to portray the deletion of files as harmless.

The FBI’s Robert Wells emphasized that government employees with access to sensitive data are expected to protect it. Rahman’s deliberate actions and attempts to hide his illegal behavior have raised significant concerns about national security.

Philippine Authorities Arrest Chinese and Filipino Suspects in Espionage Case

Chinese National and Two Filipinos Detained for Surveillance Activities

In a separate case, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested three individuals suspected of espionage. Deng Yuanqing, a Chinese national, and two Filipino citizens, Ronel Jojo Balundo Besa and Jayson Amado Fernandez, were apprehended for allegedly conducting surveillance on key infrastructure targets for over a month.

The trio is part of a larger group that has been engaged in obtaining sensitive national defense information. The remaining members of the group, believed to be in China, include two engineers and a financier.

Unlawful Surveillance Operation Uncovered

Deng, a software engineer reportedly affiliated with the PLA University Science and Technology in Nanjing, is accused of leading a covert surveillance operation from December 2024 to January 2025. The group used a vehicle equipped with technology to gather detailed information on various locations across the Philippines. They captured images of potential targets and their surroundings, all without permission from the Philippine government.

The NBI also discovered that a Chinese-controlled account was linked to the operation, managing the vehicle’s systems and surveillance equipment.

Increasing Threat from Chinese Espionage

This incident highlights the ongoing risk of espionage from foreign actors, particularly amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippines has become a target of various espionage activities due to its strategic position and territorial disputes in the region.