JUDGE RULES U.S. LAWS COVER ESPIONAGE ABROAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504650034-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: October 5, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/09: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504650034-8
ARTICLE,
ON PAGE
WASHINGTON POST
5 October 1985
Judge Rules U.S. Laws
Cover Espionage Abroad
Decision Clears Way for Ghanaian's Trial
h
By Caryle Murphy
wedifieo- Peen sear writer
He was arrested at a Spstngfield
motel where he was planning to
meet Scranage, who lives in Virgin.
ia's rural Northern Neck.
Scranage, who worked for the
CIA in Ghana from May 1983 to
May 1985, has pleaded guilty in
Alexandria to three counts of dis-
closing classified information to
Soussoudis and will appear as a wit-
ness against him.
Attorneys for Soussoudis yester-
day argued that U.S. courts had "no _
right and no power" to try Soussou.
dis for acts in Ghana.
Citing a "protective principle" of
international law, one of the law.
Yers argued a country cannot pros-
ecute an individual for acts outside
its territory unless they are crimes
"directed at the integrity of the
U.S."
"Everything that was done," said
Washington lawyer Plato Cacheris
"was directed at the peace and quiet
of the nation of Ghana, not offensive
acts against the U.S."
Bryan disagreed, saying the in-
dictment "comes well within the
protective principle."
Drawing Cacheris' attention to a
charge accusing Soussoudis of ob-
taining information from a classified
CIA cable, he asked: "You don't
think that the revelation of that ...
is detrimental to the interests of the
United States?"
Cacheris noted that the informa-
tion Soussoudis allegedly received
concerned plans for a coup by dis.
sidents in Ghana.
"Certainly every country has the
right to protect itself against such
attempts and to be punished for
that is ludicrous," he said.
It was in no manner, way, shape
or form aggression against the
United States."
Bryan also held that Soussoudis'
status in the United States as a per-
manent resident alien allowed
grounds for prosecuting him. In any
event, Bryan said, "I think this act
does extend to espionage ... by
both citizens and noncitizens."
The ruling could assist govern-
ment prosecutors seeking tougher
court action against espionage. The
government has sought only once
before to prosecute a foreigner for
espionage based on actions occur-
ring outside the United States. In
that case East German Alfred Zehe
pleaded guilty earlier this year to
espionage. He was traded to the
Soviet bloc in a spy swap.
A federal judge in Alexandria
ruled yesterday that-U.S. espionage
laws cover acts committed outside
American territory, and are appli-
cable to noncitizens.
The ruling by District Court
Judge Albert V. Bryan Jr. clears the
way for the trial of a Ghanaian na-
tional accused of espionage acts
that, for the most part, allegedly
were committed in his West African
country.
"The nature of espionage is that
it can be conducted anywhere and is
often conducted anywhere," said
Bryan as he rejected Michael A.
Soussoudis' request for a dismissal
of an indictment- charging he se-
cured secret information from a
CIA employe in Africa.
"The fact that he was operating
as a good citizen of Ghana is simply
irrelevant if he was damaging the
United States in the process," the
judge said.
Soussoudis, a first cousin of
Ghana's leader, Flight Lt. Jerry
Rawlings, is to go on trial Oct. 15
on charges of espionage, conspiracy
to commit espionage, receiving
classified information and conspir-
acy to receive classified informa-
tion.
Yesterday's hearing also dis-
closed that the government has
identified other participants in the
alleged espionage conspiracy.
Their names were not revealed
and are being held under seal be-
cause of a protective order granted
for national security reasons.
Soussondis' indictment charges
that while he was dating former
CIA employe Sharon Scranage he
allegedly sought and received clas-
sified CIA information from her.
The information allegedly included
the identities at fire. CIA ea $oyes
and 11 Ghanian supplying infotNna-
tion to the agency..
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/02/09: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504650034-8