The judicial investigation of the wiretapping case awaits the finalization of the Athens Single-Member Court of Misdemeanors’ decision regarding illegal surveillance using the Predator spyware, which sentenced four private individuals to a total of 126 years each for three misdemeanor offenses.
The hearing process before the Athens Single-Member Court of Misdemeanors, which lasted 39 sessions, led to the conviction decision for the illegal spyware case but also triggered a new chapter of investigations for this high-profile case. This new phase is expected to begin after the decision is finalized and the trial records are forwarded to prosecutorial authorities to investigate additional criminal acts, including espionage charges.
New chapter of wiretapping investigations and potential espionage prosecutions
The court’s decision is expected to put individuals connected to the involved companies, Krikel and Intellexa, in the “crosshairs” of prosecutorial authorities – people who have not yet found themselves in the defendant’s dock.
The role of Emilios Kosmidis and the contradictions
Emilios Kosmidis (known as the butcher) is also expected to come under prosecutorial investigation scrutiny. He was examined by the Athens Single-Member Court of Misdemeanors because malicious SMS messages sent to Nikos Androulakis and other individuals were purchased using a prepaid card issued in his name. The court ruled that he did not provide convincing answers and fell into contradictions, forwarding the trial records to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to examine him for perjury. A similar decision was made for another person connected to Krikel company, whose testimony was deemed unreliable.
New developments from Tal Dilian’s statement
Meanwhile, the statement by convicted Israeli businessman Tal Dilian to Mega creates new developments in the case, as he clarified that he provides systems only to governments and law enforcement agencies. Specifically, after his conviction, the Intellexa founder, who did not testify in court, responded to a question from the Mega Stories program saying he provides technology “only to governments and law enforcement services,” adding that after delivering the systems they sell, they have no operational access to them. The Intellexa founder may make additional revelations about the case in the coming period.
At the same time, new moves are already being prepared by surveillance victims who have not yet turned to the justice system, including Lakis Lazopoulos. According to lawyer Zacharias Kesses’ announcement, six of Predator’s 87 targets are expected to take legal action in the coming period, while civil lawsuits are being prepared to compensate victims for their mobile phone compromise.
