1[Black Sheep] Spy Scandal: the story of Dr Bill Sutch On 27 September 1974 New Zealanders woke to the news Dr Bill Sutch, a famous economist, historian, and former senior government official had been arrested and accused of spying for Soviet Russia. He was later found not guilty, but over the last 50 years, suspicion has swirled, and new evidence has been revealed. Check our RNZ's award Winning Podcast The Service for more about the history of the SIS in New Zealand. Check our RNZ's award Winning Podcast The Service for more about the history of the SIS in New Zealand. Further reading: Spy by Kit Bennets Shirley Smith: An Examined Life by Sarah Gaitanos Trying to Understand Dr Bill Sutch by Brian Easton Bill Sutch - Dictionary of NZ Biography by Brian Easton On a rainy night in Aro Valley on September 26th 1974, Dr Bill Sutch was intercepted by police and SIS agents meeting with the KGB's man in Wellington, Dimitri Razgovorov. Sutch had been spotted on 3 earlier occasions meeting with Razgovorov, including one where he was observed possibly handing Razgovorov from his briefcase. Bill Sutch was ultimately found not guilty of breaching the official secrets act, but the accusations polarised New Zealand. Supporters saw Such as the victim of a political witch-hunt for his left wing views, detractors said he was "guilty as sin". But in the 50 years since his arrest, more evidence has been revealed about Bill Sutch, and in this Bonus episode of Black Sheep, we look at his story. [Radio New Zealand, Season 8, Episode 9, Bonus, Friday 27 September 2024, 05:00:00]