DATE=  10/23/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221623

TITLE=  FRANCE / SPY (L ONLY)

BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY

DATELINE=PARIS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  A FRENCH NUCLEAR SCIENTIST HAS GONE ON TRIAL ON CHARGES

OF HIGH TREASON.  JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS AUTHORITIES

CHARGE THE MAN PASSED VALUABLE SECRET DOCUMENTS ON FRANCE'S

NUCLEAR TESTING PROGRAM TO THE FORMER SOVIET K-G-B INTELLIGENCE

SERVICE AND, LATER, TO RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.



TEXT:  THE EVIDENCE AGAINST FRANCIS TEMPERVILLE, WHO WENT ON

TRIAL THURSDAY, IS WORTHY OF A CLASSIC COLD-WAR ERA SPY NOVEL.



ACCORDING TO THE PROSECUTION CASE, MR. TEMPERVILLE, WHO IS NOW

40, USED TO LEAVE HIGHLY SECRET DOCUMENTS IN PLASTIC BAGS FILLED

WITH GARBAGE.  HE WOULD THEN DROP ORANGE PEEL IN ANOTHER PLACE TO

TELL HIS SPYMASTERS THE MATERIAL WAS THERE.



AGENTS FROM THE SOVIET K-G-B WOULD THEN DROP A CIGARETTE PACK

NEARBY TO LET HIM KNOW THEY HAD RETRIEVED THE MATERIAL.  IF HIS

HANDLERS WANTED A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING, THEY WOULD SPRINKLE ROSE

PETALS BY A RAILROAD BRIDGE.



THE CASE AGAINST MR. TEMPERVILLE TOOK FOUR-YEARS TO PUT TOGETHER.



HE WAS ARRESTED IN 1992 AFTER A FORMER K-G-B COLONEL DEFECTED TO

BRITAIN AND TOLD BRITISH COUNTER-ESPIONAGE SERVICES ABOUT THE

"MOLE" INSIDE FRANCE'S ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY.



ACCORDING TO THE CHARGE SHEET, MR. TEMPERVILLE, A TALENTED

NUCLEAR SCIENTIST, WAS FIRST CONTACTED BY A SOVIET DIPLOMAT WHEN

HE WAS GIVING PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY LESSONS IN 1987.



HE LATER OBTAINED A POST IN THE NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY AND

PROVIDED ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND PAGES OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT FRANCE'S

MILITARY NUCLEAR TESTING PROGRAM IN THE PACIFIC.  IN RETURN, HE

IS ALLEGED TO HAVE RECEIVED PAYMENTS OF ABOUT 336-THOUSAND

DOLLARS.



MR. TEMPERVILLE CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE

SERVICES AFTER THE SOVIET UNION BROKE UP IN 1991.  BUT HIS

USEFULNESS DIMINISHED AFTER HE WAS FIRED BY THE NUCLEAR ENERGY

AGENCY FOR PILFERING STATIONERY AND OTHER OFFICE SUPPLIES.



MR. TEMPERVILLE IS BEING TRIED BY A SPECIAL JURY COMPOSED ONLY OF

PROFESSIONAL JUDGES BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF EVIDENCE

IN THE CASE.  HE FACES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 15-YEARS IN JAIL.

(SIGNED)



NEB/JWN/JWH/RAE



23-Oct-97 11:20 AM EDT (1520 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.