A former Royal Marine who was accused of helping the Hong Kong intelligence services has been discovered dead, according to authorities.
Matthew Trickett, 37, a Home Office immigration official, appeared in court charged under the National Security Act next year.
He was found by a member of the public in a garden in Maidenhead, Berkshire, on Sunday, Thames Valley Police said.
His suicide is being treated as unexpected, the army added, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted in due course.
Officials attended Grenfell Park in Maidenhead at about 17: 15 BST on Sunday, where Mr Trickett was found.
He received emergency care, but he was later declared dead.
On Tuesday night, a dark investigations camp was visible inside a cordoned off place in the park’s center. In the area, authorities officials were also present.
If anyone has any information, the police are appealing to anyone who was in the park on Sunday evening to come forth.
In a speech, Mr Trickett’s community said they were “mourning the loss of a far- loved brother, brother, and community member”.
” We may be glad if the media would respect our privacy at this difficult time and refrain from invading our grief,” they continued.
His lawyer, Julian Hayes, said:” We are naturally shocked at this information and supporting his home as best as we can”.
Mr. Trickett, who had formerly been a Royal Marine for six years, was an immigration officer for the Home Office. Additionally, he was the owner of the surveillance company MTR Consultancy.
Last week, he was charged along with Chi Leung ( Peter ) Wai, 38, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, under the National Security Act with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference.
They are accused of agreeing to carry out fraud, security, and data gathering that was possible to significantly aid a international intelligence service between December 2023 and May.
Additionally, it is claimed that they allegedly forced their way into a English home on May 1.
During their judge appearance, the three accused people only reaffirmed their names.
They were released on bail until Friday when they were scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey and had not yet entered appeals.
At the hearing last week, attorney Kashif Malik requested that Mr. Trickett be kept in prison for his own safety because he claimed the accused had attempted to kill himself after being charged, but that demand was rejected and he was given bail.
Because it had a relationship with Mr. Trickett, who was currently on loan and required to constantly record to a police station, the army has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.