An Ethiopian-born contractor employed by the US State and Justice departments has been apprehended and charged with transmitting classified information to Ethiopia. The accused, Abraham Teklu Lemma, 50, allegedly shared sensitive data with an official linked to Ethiopia’s intelligence service, according to the US Justice Department.

Although the department did not disclose the name of the African nation involved, sources such as the New York Times have identified it as Ethiopia. The charges brought against Lemma include gathering or divulging defense information to benefit a foreign government, unauthorized possession of national defense information, and willful retention of such information.

Lemma, a naturalized US citizen of Ethiopian origin residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, held positions as an IT administrator for the Department of State and as a management analyst for the Department of Justice. With top-secret security clearance and access to classified US systems, the suspect’s actions have grave implications. If found guilty of espionage, Lemma could potentially face capital punishment.

BBC/Jide Johnson