Three West Germans have been charged with spying after allegedly breaking into secret Western computer systems on behalf of the Soviet Union, the federal prosecutor's office said.
A spokesman for the office said it was the first West German case involving "hackers," enthusiasts who use their expertise to gain illegal access to computer networks.They are alleged to have tapped military, research and industrial computer systems in the United States, Western Europe and the Far East for the KGB, the Soviet secret service.
The spokesman said computer experts Markus H., 28, and Dirk B., 30, and ex-croupier Peter C., 35, who allegedly acted as their contact man with the KGB, were charged with "crimes against the external security of the Federal Republic (West Germany)."
They could be jailed for five years if convicted.
A fourth man, Karl Koch, who helped police in compiling the case against himself and his alleged accomplices, committed suicide by burning himself to death in woods near Hanover after being noted as missing May 23.
All four were arrested last March when the group's activities were discovered by a U.S. computer expert.