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No comment over suspended criminal prosecution in Israeli spy van case-Law Office

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The Law Office refuses to make a comment over last week’s surprise requested suspension of criminal prosecution for three defendants – an Israeli and two Cypriots – in the island’s much-publicized spy van case.

The case – before Larnaca district court – was to be referred directly to an Assize Court when the Law Office put the brakes on this development, Philenews reports.

A state prosecutor asked, instead, for an end to the criminal prosecution of Israeli Tal Dillian, a former intelligence officer, and two Cypriot employees of his Larnaca-based companies.

Only the company under which the van is registered is still under indictment and if violations are established then the court can only impose a fine, insiders said.

Police launched an investigation in November 2019 after the owner of the company gave an interview to Forbes essentially advertising his services, which included covert surveillance and eavesdropping, among others.

The vehicle, a converted GMC ambulance, is said to be loaded with gear capable of hacking smart phones and intercepting electronic communications within a one-kilometre radius.

Insiders said no evidence had been found that the van had been used to spy on citizens. But that there was proof of violation of personal data and offences relating to the importation of the equipment, which had been declared as weather instruments.

Opposition Akel party accused the government of trying to put a lid on a serious case.

 

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