A magistrate has asked lawyers to explain how a Russian couple accused of spying on Defence systems for the Kremlin will use a laptop while in custody in Brisbane.
At a hearing on Monday, the Brisbane Magistrates Court heard various government departments had discussed how Kira and Igor Korolev would use a laptop containing court material, which they had requested for legal purposes.
The couple were arrested in 2024 and now face a charge of conspiracy to commit espionage, alleged to have been committed in 2023 and 2024 at Everton Park in Brisbane and the Russian Federation.
Kira Korolev worked for the Australian Army for several years as an information systems technician, and allegedly told her husband Igor how to log into her work account to send Defence material to her private email address while she was overseas in Russia.
In June, the couple had their charges upgraded, and could now face 25 years to life behind bars.
On Monday, Deputy Chief Magistrate Anthony Gett questioned whether the way the laptop was handled had been settled with the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre, where Kira Korolev is being held.
Dylan Kerr, representing the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police and the Secretary of the Department of Defence, told the court: “The AFP has been corresponding with the correctional facility and the conditions are by and large informed by what can be facilitated by the correctional facility.”
Gett asked what would ultimately happen with the laptop, and its legal status, given it allowed the Korolevs to take notes.
“Hypothetically, if the matter finishes, what’s the status of this laptop and the notes made? Does the defendant return the laptop ultimately to you, and you can view the notes?” Gett asked.
Gett again queried if the laptop was in the effective possession of Queensland Corrective Services, whether they could retain or interrogate it. “Can another agency issue a search warrant over it?”
Kerr said he believed the notes would be subject to a privilege claim. “I think technically any record of that kind will be amenable to subpoena or compulsory process, but it would be a matter for the accused’s legal representatives to make privilege claims,” Kerr said.
Gett made the order to provide a laptop for Kira Korolev, with Igor expected to be granted similar access later.
Commonwealth prosecutor Ellie McDonald told the court a redacted version of the statement of facts had been provided to the Korolevs in custody.
Anastacia Stoenko, representing Igor Korolev, told the court she had received that redacted version on July 29.
“In my submission, it does contain further material that my client will be taken through in some further varied allegations,” she said.
Gett adjourned the case to the end of the month.
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