Probe into Share Transfers Amid Spyware Scandal
In the wake of a scandal involving the Predator spyware, the Cypriot anti-money laundering unit, Mokas, is meticulously examining a series of suspicious share transfers. These transactions involve Cyprus-based companies entangled in the affair, as reported by local media outlets.
Investigations by Mokas have brought to light retroactive share transfers within Santinomo, a company once holding a significant stake in Intellexa—the consortium behind the development of the controversial spyware technology. Intellexa recently faced sanctions from the US Treasury. Mokas sources have indicated that their findings will be handed over to the police upon completion of their inquiry.
Politis, a daily publication, has played a pivotal role in uncovering these transactions after delving into records from the Registrar of Companies. The European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry has also been actively investigating the use of Pegasus and similar surveillance tools. In their draft report, businessman Felix Bitzios was highlighted as a central figure, with connections to Santinomo and Tal Dilian, an ex-Israeli intelligence officer and founder of Intellexa.
The US Treasury has labeled Dilian as the mastermind behind Intellexa’s spyware tools. The consortium is described as a complex network of decentralized entities under Dilian’s control. The European Parliament’s dossier has shed light on Bitzios’s role in transferring Intellexa to Greece and his retroactive distancing from the company following a high-profile hacking incident involving Greek politician Nikos Androulakis.
Further complicating matters, Inside Story, a Greek media outlet, has reported on the legal but questionable practice of retroactively altering company records in Cyprus. Such amendments are subject to fines but are generally permitted unless they contain conflicting information.
Recent entries in Santinomo’s records have raised eyebrows due to their backdated nature, suggesting changes to company secretary and director positions that predate actual filing dates. These entries coincide with key moments surrounding the US Treasury sanctions and public revelations about the use of Predator spyware.
The case has also reignited interest in the ‘spy van affair’ in Cyprus, with Dilian previously linked to WiSpear Systems Limited, a firm specializing in surveillance systems. Although charges against Dilian were dropped, the case had initially garnered attention following a Forbes report that showcased his company’s covert surveillance capabilities.