| Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images EU opens internal investigation over German spy suspect Diplomatic service to review activity of ex-ambassador suspected of spying for China.

The EU's diplomatic service has opened an investigation into possible wrongdoing by an ex-ambassador suspected by German prosecutors of spying for China.

Gerhard Sabathil, a German national, worked for the European External Action Service (EEAS) in a variety of senior roles before joining lobbying firm EUTOP in 2017. Through a lawyer, he has denied the allegations against him. EUTOP has said it is not involved in the affair.

"The EEAS has initiated an internal investigation to review possible wrongdoings by the person concerned during his time in the service as well as after that," a spokesperson for the EU's diplomatic corps said.

Sabathil was recalled in 2016 from his post as EU ambassador to South Korea after his security clearance was withdrawn.

EU officials have been considering how to respond to the German investigation into Sabathil, who worked for decades for the European Commission and the EEAS. Officials were unsure whether to leave the matter to the German authorities or launch their own inquiry.

Prosecutors have revealed few details about their investigation. A spokesperson for the federal prosector’s office in Karlsruhe, southwest Germany, said it is investigating three people on suspicion of "secret service agent activity.”

As part of that inquiry, investigators earlier this month visited nine properties in Brussels, Berlin, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, including Sabathil’s German residences and the offices of his employer.

Sabathil himself has not made any public appearances or comments since his name emerged as one of the suspects under investigation. EUTOP has removed his biography from its website but declined to say whether he still works for the company. Sabathil's name was also removed last week from a list of EUTOP lobbyists in the EU's Transparency Register.