In the Netherlands, a former ASML and NXP engineer was sentenced to 3 years in prison for passing confidential documents regarding chip production to Russia.
In the Netherlands, a former ASML and NXP engineer was sentenced to 3 years in prison for passing confidential documents regarding chip production to Russia.
ASML, a Dutch company, is the world's sole supplier of ultraviolet lithography machines used in the production of modern microcircuits. NXP is a leading semiconductor manufacturer known for co-inventing short-range communication technology with Sony. Both companies are considered important targets for espionage by governments and cybercriminals around the world.
German Aksyonov, a 43-year-old former ASML and NXP employee, was arrested at the scene of a crime. He was found to be storing confidential files from his former employers on USB drives and hard drives. The devices were taken to Moscow, where they were handed over to FSB agents, TechSpot reports .
Aksyonov was also caught copying documents from ASML and NXP servers and bringing them home. He tried to justify his unusual behavior by claiming that he needed access to the confidential information to further his “professional” knowledge of chip manufacturing. He continues to deny that he was a spy or that he intentionally smuggled trade secrets to Russia.
Dutch authorities sentenced the engineer to three years in prison, although prosecutors had asked for a four-year sentence. The court reduced the sentence due to a lack of evidence that Aksyonov received compensation for his actions. Authorities were also unable to determine exactly when the confidential documents were stolen from his former employers.
Aksyonov was arrested in 2023 and has been in custody since then. As a Russian citizen, he has the right to appeal the decision of the Dutch court within 14 days.
We previously reported that Russian companies, bypassing sanctions, were buying spare parts for ASML machines to produce microcircuits for the war in Ukraine.
