Probably the only member of the House of Commons to be charged in this century with betraying secret information of potential use to an enemy. A Labour "backbencher," he was charged with violating the Official Secrets Acts on Jan. 23, 1970, following a convoluted effort by Eastern Bloc intelligence agencies to subvert him.

Elected to Parliament in 1954, and appointed to the Defense Estimates Committee in Feb. 1960, he was persuaded to work for improved British relations with East Germany. In 1964 to become director of a tourist agency, Berolina Travel. In that position he visited East Germany several times and made a trip to the Soviet Union. He was befriended by a Czech commercial attache, Robert Husak. Subsequently, the Czech government paid him 2,300 pounds, entertained him, and gave him presents.

In return, Husak sought information about Owen's fellow members of Parliament, seeking those who would be vulnerable to blackmail. Owen also had access to classified information, but it is not clear if any was passed on to foreign intelligence officers.

He was arrested in Jan. 1970 and resigned from the House of Commons that April. Owen was tried and acquitted, with the court directing him to pay 2,000 pounds toward legal costs. After being acquitted, Owens revealed his dealings with Czech intelligence.

He was given the code name Lee by Czech intelligence.