Tal Dillian, founder of Intellexa—the company that markets the Predator spyware— has madea significant statement regarding the wiretapping scandal in the wake of the latest political and judicial developments, via “Ef.Syn.”
Mr. Dillian categorically states that his company sells technology to government agencies (meaning that the relevant documentation exists), but never interferes with its use. With this argument, he maintains that he has no connection to the crimes he is accused of, and despite the various political narratives being put forward, his involvement in any crime has not been proven.
He expresses his deep regret over the rejection of the PASOK president’s proposal for an investigative committee. He cites the statements by the three former prime ministers, Antonis Samaras, Kostas Karamanlis, and Alexis Tsipras, in favor of a credible process that will reveal the whole truth.
He rejects the Justice Minister’s statements regarding the direct responsibility of“four private individuals,”and, in view of the upcoming Court of Appeals hearing, announces that he will request that all relevant witnesses be summoned in order to secure his full acquittal.
The question from “Ef.Syn.”
“In recent weeks, the wiretapping case has returned to the headlines following the government’s decision to block the formation of a parliamentary investigative committee, citing national security concerns. Shortly before that, the Supreme Court prosecutor decided to shelve further investigations into the case. What is your response to these developments?”
Tal Dillian’s statement – response
As we emerge from Holy Spirit Monday, a day of profound spiritual, cultural, and national significance for the Greek people, we issue this statement with deep respect for the values of truth, justice, and institutional integrity, which are an integral part of Greece’s identity.
In recent weeks, we have closely followed the important parliamentary debates regarding this case and its implications for Greece’s national security, particularly amid the public discourse on the elections, the quality of governance, and the rule of law.
We welcome the clear acknowledgment in Parliament, which was confirmed by the head of the EYP in his closed-door testimony (with the exception of certain irresponsible leaks), that there was never a joint operations center between the four private citizens and the intelligence service.
It is regrettable that this important testimony, which rules out our involvement in any crime, was not properly examined by the Zisis Committee, nor was it presented in court before contrary allegations were made.
We are surprised that the former director of the EYP was not called to testify during last week’s parliamentary debates. We are certain that he could have made it clear that companies operating in this field, for obvious reasons, only sell technology and never operate it themselves, nor do they participate in business operations. We believe that such testimony would have prevented the prosecution from bringing charges against us in the first place.
We intend to call all relevant witnesses during the appeal hearing in order to secure a full acquittal.
Let me be clear: we are a technology provider, not mercenaries. Our technology is used daily to support the security of millions of people worldwide. We sell to government agencies in accordance with all required regulations, but we never operate the systems on their behalf.
We have never operated any system in Greece. Therefore, we categorically reject the statements by the Minister of Justice that attribute direct responsibility to the “four private individuals” before the judicial process has been completed and without all the facts and evidence having been presented. This is not the rule of law.
In Greece, the Minister of Justice should know that when someone appeals misdemeanor charges, the case is reviewed from the beginning and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That is the rule of law.
Despite the political narratives, to date not a single piece of evidence has been presented to prove that we participated in any crime.
We deeply regret that a parliamentary investigative committee was not established. We share the call by former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras for the establishment of such a committee, within which we would be willing to seek justice, and the evidence will show that we did nothing wrong.
The Greek people, represented by various political parties, deserve a credible process that can reveal the whole truth, as former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has called for regarding the importance of institutional transparency and political accountability, and as former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has emphasized in his focus on restoring public trust and the rule of law.
These voices underscore the urgent need for a credible process that can reveal the whole truth, allowing us to achieve a full exoneration.
We seek only a full and balanced investigation of the facts and will utilize every appropriate legal means, both at the national and international levels.
Our role is clear: we do not need to prove that no crimes were committed—we do not know that—but to demonstrate that we had absolutely no connection to any alleged activities.
We remain committed to the principle that this case must be judged on the basis of evidence and not political narratives, and that the rule of law must be protected from politicization.
PASOK: The Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office cannot remain inactive
“In new statements to the Journalists’ Newspaper, the owner of the company that sells the Predator spyware is pointing the finger at the Maximos Mansion and the EYP regarding the illegal surveillance scandal,” PASOK notes in a statement.
"He insists that Greek government agencies possess and use Predator, implying that he has the relevant evidence (contracts, etc.) at his disposal.
In light of these extremely serious allegations, the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office cannot remain inactive. Since Mr. Dillian himself claims to have evidence and is making public insinuations about individuals and events linked to the scandal, he must be summoned immediately to testify about what he knows. The judiciary has a duty to investigate every allegation and every new piece of information concerning a case of major institutional significance for the country.
Even more provocative is the fact that Mr. Dillian is presenting himself asa “cleansing agent (!)”, claims to know whether and what the current head of the EYP told the Institutions Committee regarding the existence or non-existence of a joint EYP-Predator center, makes public suggestions on how the Greek justice system should operate, comments on the public statements of the Minister of Justice and makes veiled “threats” about what he might testify to the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee.
This is a situation that irreparably exposes the government. When a convicted key figure in such a murky case issues recommendations to the institutions of the Hellenic Republic and threatens the Prime Minister and the government in full view of the public, then the problem concerns not only him, but first and foremost those who set up the parallel state of illegal surveillance and allowed a climate of institutional discredit, opacity, and shadiness to take root.
The more Kyriakos Mitsotakis continues to cover up the scandal by obstructing its investigation, the more he undermines his own position. The country, in the current context of heightened geopolitical tensions, cannot afford to have a Prime Minister who is being blackmailed.
PASOK reiterates the obvious: no shadow can remain over the functioning of our institutions. The full investigation of the illegal wiretapping case is a democratic obligation to the citizens and a necessary prerequisite for restoring confidence in the rule of law.”
SYRIZA’s statement
Tal Dillian’s new statements in the Journalists’ Newspaper constitute an unprecedented political and institutional challenge for the country.
The man at the center of the Predator scandal and the illegal surveillance operations is once again pointing the finger at the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Intelligence Service (EYP), directly questioning the judiciary’s handling of the case and calling out the Minister of Justice.
What is most alarming, however, is not what Mr. Dillian says. It is the certainty with which he says it.
The Mitsotakis government, having for years attempted to cover up the wiretapping scandal, having blocked any substantive parliamentary investigation, and having turned the invocation of “national security” into a tool to avoid accountability, now finds itself facing a new impasse: it is being publicly blackmailed by one of the key figures in the case.
When Mr. Dillian implies that he is familiar with the individuals, facts, and details of the case while simultaneously firing warning shots at the government and the institutions, Mr. Mitsotakis cannot continue to remain silent.
Mr. Dillian’s statement regarding the former head of the EYP, Panagiotis Kontoleontas, and the information he possesses—which the justice system must investigate—is revealing, as it brings the EYP’s pivotal role back into the spotlight.
The Prosecutor of the Supreme Court must immediately summon Mr. Dillian to testify regarding what he knows.
If he has information regarding political figures, government officials, or the manner in which the competent authorities handled the case, this must be investigated without delay. The judiciary cannot stand idly by while public insinuations circulate regarding a case that has undermined the rule of law and exposed the country internationally.
The wiretapping scandal is not closed simply because the Maximos Mansion decided so. It remains open regarding who was monitoring whom and why, as well as regarding who fears the revelations today.
Democracy cannot be blackmailed. And the truth about the parastatal wiretapping network will come to light, no matter how hard the Mitsotakis government tries to keep it in the dark.