In January the following year, Wispelaere quit his job and travelled to Bangkok,[2] where he approached the embassy of a foreign country.
Posing as agents for a foreign country (allegedly Russia), the FBI met Wispelaere in Bangkok, where he gave them hundreds of sensitive documents in exchange for cash.
[2] He was arrested by the FBI at Dulles International Airport, and was charged with attempted espionage.
[3] Under a plea bargain agreement, Wispelaere agreed to co-operate with investigators in exchange for a lighter penalty.
[5] In May 2009, Attorney-General Robert McClelland granted preliminary approval for Wispelaere to return to Australia under the international prisoner transfer scheme.