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Former Canadian Food Inspection Agency scientist Klaus Nielsen hid the deadly bacteria he intended to smuggle to China in a child’s lunch bag, an Ottawa court heard Wednesday.

The first airing of facts in the case revealed a complex tale of domestic and international intrigue involving a brilliant, respected public servant who was required to turn his research and patents over to the Canadian government but who instead decided to do some illegal business on the side.

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Aiding Nielsen in his venture was a Chinese-born female colleague who apparently left Canada shortly before his arrest and hasn’t returned.

Nielsen, who turns 69 later this month, pleaded guilty Wednesday to 10 charges related to his handling and attempts to smuggle the brucella bacteria and one charge of breach of trust.

He will likely be sentenced later this year, and faces possible jail time.

Nielsen, who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but has been a Canadian citizen since the 1960s, was arrested on Oct. 24, 2012, as he was headed to the Ottawa airport en route to China.