The name’s Bond, Eurobond. A hunt for a spy believed to have leaked European secrets to China has taken a new twist with claims that the chief suspect is a former senior Eurocrat.

Gerhard Sabathil, who has both German and Hungarian passports, was named last week as one of three people investigated by German authorities on “suspicion of secret service agent activity”. His German homes and the premises of Eutop, the lobbying firm where he has worked since retiring from his European post in 2017, were among nine properties visited by investigators.

Sabathil, who is in his sixties and has a Chinese wife and a young child, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Known for his colourful bow ties and love of fine food and wine,