A Greek court has sentenced four individuals to jail time following a wiretapping scandal that deeply impacted the nation in 2022. This case, often referred to as “Greece’s Watergate,” involved the use of surveillance software known as Predator, which was employed to target 87 individuals. The list of those affected included government ministers, high-ranking military officials, and journalists.
The four defendants, who were found to have marketed the software, were convicted by an Athens court on charges of misdemeanors. These offenses included violating telephone communication confidentiality and illegally accessing personal data and private conversations. The court imposed lengthy prison sentences. However, these sentences are suspended pending appeal. While each defendant faces a potential 126 years, the typical served sentence for misdemeanors caps at eight years.
Significantly, it was revealed that one in three of the individuals targeted by the spyware were also under legal surveillance by Greece’s intelligence services (EYP). Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who oversees the EYP, acknowledged the scandal. Despite this, no government officials have been charged in court. Critics of the government argue that it has attempted to conceal the full extent of the truth.
The Origins of the Scandal
The events leading to the scandal began in the summer of 2022. Nikos Androulakis, then a Member of the European Parliament and currently the head of the Greek Socialist party Pasok, was alerted by the IT experts of the European Parliament. He had received a malicious text message containing a link.
Predator spyware, marketed by the Athens-based Israeli company Intellexa, possesses the capability to access a device’s messages, camera, and microphone. At the time of its use against Mr. Androulakis, its deployment was illegal in Greece. However, subsequent to the initial events, a new law enacted in 2022 has since legalized the state’s use of surveillance software for security purposes, albeit under stringent conditions.
Further investigations by Mr. Androulakis uncovered that he had been monitored by Greece’s intelligence services for “national security reasons.” The ramifications of this case have expanded, contributing to a broader discussion on democratic accountability within Greece.
Court Proceedings and Wider Implications
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the proceedings brought to trial focused solely on misdemeanors. The courtroom used for the trial, a small ground-floor space, was reportedly filled with both Greek and foreign journalists on Thursday morning. The four defendants found guilty—Felix Bitzios and Yiannis Lavranos, both Greek, and Israelis Tal Dilian and Sara Hamou—were not present in the dock when the verdict was delivered. This absence mirrored their stance during the five months the trial had been ongoing.
The court declined to offer any mitigation to the convicted individuals. The judge indicated that the defendants appeared to have acted with the involvement of “unknown third parties.” The court further suggested that these third parties might include officials from both Greek and foreign intelligence services. Consequently, the trial records were ordered to be transferred to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office. This referral aims to investigate whether a series of felonies, including espionage, were committed.
Among the numerous public figures who were targeted in the scandal was Thanasis Koukakis, a financial reporter specializing in corruption investigations. He expressed his feelings to the BBC, stating, “The decision satisfies me with regard to the violation of my private life.”
“The court proved that there are safeguards in place for the functioning of the rule of law in Greece,” Koukakis added.
Zacharias Kesses, representing some of the victims of the Predator affair, commented on the verdict. He stated, “After today’s decision, justice must, without distraction, investigate the involvement of third parties in felony offenses.”