Russian spy Anna Chapman, who was sent back home after being arrested in the US, is in a secret $ 250,000-deal to reveal her espionage adventure and wants the money to be paid into the Swiss bank account of one of her associates.
The spy is hoping to net a fortune from the story of how she infiltrated American society and has asked a London-based friend to discreetly reach out to the media for a deal.
Chapman hopes to get around rules in the US and Russia banning her from profiting from her story by channeling the money from any deal to a friend, the New York Post reported quoting sources.
"Anna has lost her income. She has had to leave her real-estate business, and won't be getting any more money from the Russian government. She knows a media deal is her best way of earning money. It has even been suggested to her that she might pose for Playboy," a source said.
"She hopes this translates into a book deal and movie rights, but how she is paid will have to be carefully controlled. The money cannot come directly to her; so she has suggested it goes to a friend's Swiss account."
Chapman along with nine others arrested in the US on charges of spying for Russia were sent back to Moscow as part of a swap deal last month.
In her plea bargain with US authorities, Chapman agreed not to profit from her story and stipulated that any money she got would go to the federal government.
Chapman's lawyer, Robert Baum, told Newsweek, "She felt that the only source of income that she might have was based on her story."
He said: "Remember, according to the provision, there is no prohibition against her talking. That would have been illegal. She just can't make money from it, or else the government will go after that money."
But now that she's back in Russia, Baum added, "there are obvious issues about the enforceability of that provision."
- IANS
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