*

Accused's sharing of data with Russia violates EU

sanctions

*

NXP cooperated with prosecutors, ASML declined to comment

*

Sentence cut to three years due to lack of payment

evidence

(Updates throughout, adds that ASML declined to comment in

paragraph 4)

By Nathan Vifflin

ROTTERDAM, July 10 (Reuters) - A Dutch court on Thursday

sentenced a former employee of semiconductor firms ASML

and NXP to three years in prison for sharing

sensitive company technology with a contact in Russia, in

violation of European Union sanctions.

The Rotterdam court convicted German Aksenov, 43, of

computer intrusion and illegally providing technical assistance

to Russia.

Dutch semiconductor firm NXP told Reuters it had cooperated

with prosecutors. ASML, the world's top chipmaking equipment

supplier, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

Aksenov can appeal the ruling within the next 14 days.

Aksenov was arrested in August 2023 and has remained in

custody since. Prosecutors initially accused him of selling

design manuals and contacting Russia's FSB intelligence service.

He has denied the allegations, including that he was a spy,

maintaining that he has kept confidential documents in his

possession to maintain his professional knowledge.

Aksenov copied files from the servers of his employers ASML

and NXP, which were found at his home, the court said, and

shared information about chip production lines with an

individual in Russia.

It said Aksenov had violated the EU's 2014 sanctions against

Russia, forbidding providing "technical assistance" and

transferring technologies to Russian entities.

The sanctions aim to restrict Russia's access to technology

that could aid its military during conflicts, the court said.

The prosecution alleged he had saved information on USB

sticks and his hard drive, which he would have physically handed

over in Moscow to contacts of the FSB.

The court cut Aksenov's sentence to three years, citing lack

of payment evidence, instead of the four years prosecutors had

demanded.

It could not determine the exact timing of the file theft.

When questioned in an earlier court hearing, Aksenov said:

"I had files from ASML for my own use. ... Whether those files

were allowed to go to Russia? I did not ask myself that."