logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
44m 22s

The Defector | The Tech Boss Who Was Rus...

The Telegraph
About this episode

A “sophisticated” UK-based spy ring passed secrets to Russia for nearly three years before they were prosecuted. It was revealed that the ring leader, a man named Orlin Roussev, had exchanged messages with a mysterious man code named ‘Rupert Ticz’. 


The prosecutors revealed that the man was in fact Jan Marsalek, the fugitive ex-Wirecard chief operating officer, who is wanted in connection with a €1.9bn (£1.57bn) banking fraud. 


For almost three years, he had gathered information on targets across Europe, planning kidnappings, murders and assaults alongside the spy ring.


In the third instalment of The Tech Boss Who Was Russia's Secret Spy, Hayley Dixon reveals the messages that were sent by Marsalek and uncover what he has been up to since he went on the run since June 2020.


This series was originally published on The Telegraph's Daily T podcast: https://linktr.ee/thedailytpodcast


Reporter: Hayley Dixon 

Producer: Georgia Coan

Executive Producers: Adélie Pojzman-Pontay and Louisa Wells 

Original music by John Cadigan


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Mar 2025
Trouble | Bed of Lies, Series 3, Ep 1
Three innocent Catholic men are shot dead in front of their families by a brutal Protestant paramilitary group hunting the IRA. Even in the dark days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the murders shock the nation. Then it emerges the gunmen aren’t working alone. Cara McGoogan ... Show More
46m 3s
Mar 2025
Collusion | Bed of Lies, Series 3, Ep 2
Top detectives race to untangle a web of lies behind the murders. But just as they’re about to arrest a key loyalist suspect, their secure office containing top-secret evidence goes up in flames. They hear whispers that a clandestine unit of the British army could be behind the s ... Show More
49m 1s
Mar 2025
Agent 6137 | Bed of Lies, Series 3, Ep 3
Facing life in prison for murder, a key loyalist makes a surprising confession: he is Agent 6137. When he targeted people for the UDA to assassinate, he was also working for the British. The daughter of one of his victims hunts for the truth about his life as a spy – but as she a ... Show More
56m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2025
Trump: Starmer must stop the boats and drill baby drill
<p>Earlier today, President Donald Trump joined Sir Keir Starmer for a <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/18/trump-state-visit-britain-starmer-chequers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press conference</a> at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country house. ... Show More
45m 43s
Feb 2025
"DISTURBING" Alina Habba on Epstein Files & Tate Brothers + "Putin Lickspittle" George Galloway
President Donald Trump, maintaining his furiously energetic pace of governance, is filling the news cycle with meetings and announcements. Today he meets with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, as his administration prepares to release the infamous Epstein files. ... Show More
1h 31m
Mar 2025
Top Trump Advisor Jason Miller Says President Could be DONE With Zelensky
After a highly amicable meeting with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, American President Donald Trump held a similar meeting with Zelensky - but the terms weren't quite as friendly. The world leaders interrupted each other and, to put it mildly, loudly disagreed on the prospec ... Show More
58m 28s
Sep 2025
Government Shutdown Looms, UNGA: Trump Slams Russia, Jimmy Kimmel Returns
President Trump cancels a meeting with Democratic leaders as a government shutdown looms, with both sides refusing to budge on health care demands. At the U.N., Trump calls Russia a “paper tiger” and signals Ukraine could reclaim its territory with European help. And Jimmy Kimmel ... Show More
13m 23s
May 2025
Trump Turns the Screws
First: President Trump tells his government to cancel all contracts with Harvard, his latest move in a full-frontal assault on America's most prestigious university. Plus: Canada invites the British king to open parliament, sending a clear message about Canadian sovereignty after ... Show More
41m 10s
Apr 2025
Trump’s Tariffs: Is Globalisation Over?
Today, the Prime Minister has responded to Trump’s tariffs saying the government is ready to step in to protect the UK economy. Paddy’s away so Jeremy Vine makes a guest appearance to go through it all.They also discuss the Foreign Secretary David Lammy saying it’s unacceptable t ... Show More
22m 52s
Nov 2025
Trump Calls For NUCLEAR OPTION, END Filibuster Over Food Stamp Crisis w/ Roger Simon
Tim, Seamus, & Ian are joined by Roger Simon to discuss Trump calling on the GOP to end the filibuster to reopen the government, liberal media slamming Trump for accepting White South African refugees, DOJ investigating the leaders of BLM for fraud, and inmates declaring Luigi Ma ... Show More
2h 4m
Feb 2025
Trump NUKES Nearly EVERY USAID Job, Cuts ALL FUNDS To Liberal News Amid PURGE w/Mel K
<p>Tim, Phil, & Brett are joined by Mel K to discuss Trump eliminating nearly every USAID job, Trump ending all media contracts at the GSA, Politico co-founder saying liberal media is weaker than ever, and a Democrat politician admitting she sterilized herself in protest of Trump ... Show More
2 h