Trial of German Engineer Accused of Aiding Libyan Nuclear Program to Open Tomorrow

The trial of a German engineer charged with violating export laws to aid Libya’s former nuclear weapons program is scheduled to begin tomorrow, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Dec. 19).

Gotthard Lerch is suspected of collaborating with the clandestine network established by former top Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan between 1999 and 2003. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if convicted, according to AP.

Lerch’s attorney, Gottfried Reims, said information from the CIA and other foreign intelligence services would vindicate his client.

Foreign intelligence services “must know that Mr. Lerch, for instance, had nothing to do with this,” Reims told AP.

German prosecutors have said that Lerch received more than $34 million for work that included overseeing procurement of uranium enrichment centrifuges for Libya and supplying vacuum technology for their production in South Africa (Stephen Graham, Associated Press, March 16).

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