The senior Greek Air Force officer charged with spying for China has been transferred to a prison in the city of Corinth after confessing to espionage and giving a lengthy statement to a military investigating judge.

The 54-year-old officer admitted his guilt during an eight-hour deposition on Tuesday, according to judicial sources. He told investigators he had provided information to Chinese contacts and said he felt relieved after his arrest. He also expressed remorse and asked for a fair punishment.

In his testimony, the officer named three Chinese individuals he said he had worked with since 2024, when he first made contact with them. He claimed he received a total of 25,000 euros in cash and cryptocurrency as payment. He said that after a trip to China he lived in fear, alleging that he was pressured and threatened as demands escalated for more sensitive information. He added that he became afraid for his family when the requests intensified.

The officer insisted that no other members of the Greek armed forces were involved in leaking classified information. In a written statement read by his lawyer, he said he initially became involved “without intention,” but the situation later turned “nightmarish, dangerous and illegal.” He said he was not trying to justify or defend himself.

“I sincerely apologize to my country, the armed forces, my colleagues and my family,” he said in the statement, adding that he trusted military justice and wanted a fair and reasonable sentence.

Authorities have placed him on 18-month suspension while judicial proceedings move forward. The charges he faces carry heavy penalties.

His lawyers said there was no woman involved in recruiting him, contradicting earlier scenarios. However, authorities are still examining whether a woman may have played a role, possibly as part of a so-called “honey trap,” a tactic sometimes used in espionage operations. Investigators believe financial gain may have been his primary motive.

The case has prompted a broader probe. Intelligence services are examining the possible involvement of two retired officers who worked abroad as consultants and reviewing their contacts with active-duty personnel. Authorities are also checking the activities of Chinese companies operating in Greece and foreign-based consulting firms that work online. The investigation is being carried out in cooperation with U.S. and European intelligence services.