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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