Munich (Germany), Nov. 19 : A German spy has gone on trial in Munich accused of betraying state secrets after his wife discovered he was having a gay affair.

The spy, a former soldier named in court only as Anton K., 42, began a relationship with a male translator after being posted to Kosovo in 2005 by the German foreign ministry, The Telegraph reports.

In fact he was working for the German secret service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), sent to set up a network of informants. He is accused by prosecutors of allowing a 29-year-old Macedonian translator, Murat A., access to classified documents, including at least one supplied by British intelligence.

It is also alleged the translator "intended" to pass the intelligence to foreign powers or organised crime gangs in Macedonia.

The alleged security breach only emerged when the spy''s wife discovered he had change his life insurance policy, replacing her name with his interpreter''s as the beneficiary.

She stormed into the headquarters of the BND to tell them and the agency in turn alerted prosecutors.

The two men were arrested after being summoned back to Germany in March last year.

Defence lawyers deny the charges, arguing the two men are victims of a homophobic witch-hunt within the BND. (ANI)