A Berlin court found a former German government spokesman guilty of espionage for Egypt and sentenced him to one year and nine months in prison on probation, AP reports.

The federal prosecutor's office reported that the suspect, a German citizen of Egyptian origin, Amin K., began his espionage activities in July 2010 at the direction of the Egyptian Embassy in Berlin.

He used his position in the press service's visitor service to deliver information to the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate. 

He was accused of compiling reports on Germany's domestic and foreign policy towards Egypt, including using materials available to him in the press service. In return, the suspect hoped that his family in Egypt would receive special treatment from local authorities. The prosecutor's office said that his curator helped the defendant's mother obtain pension rights in Egypt, and he was occasionally invited to receptions at the embassy.