Supreme Court deputy prosecutor, Achilles Zisis, has filed away the criminal complaints made by PASOK President Nikos Androulakis and journalist Thanasis Koukakis. The legal action was directed at the individual whose prepaid bank card was allegedly used to pay for SMS messages infected with the Predator spyware that were sent to the complainants.
In his report, Zisis comments on the accused individual, Emilios Kosmidis, a supermarket employee, stating that “he has no connection to the allegations, as a third party used the card, recharged it, and made the two transfers.” He further clarifies that no connection was found between the accused and any individual from the National Intelligence Service (EYP).
According to the testimony of a bank employee who issued the prepaid card, the card was loaded with 500 euros at an ATM in the northern Athens suburb of Agia Paraskevi, rather than being topped up via a bank transfer from the cardholder’s account.
The person who made the deposit cannot be traced, as the only way to identify them would be to obtain video footage from the exact date and time of the deposit. However, this is not possible because such footage is destroyed after two months.
The accused reportedly claimed that their card was used by a third party who activated it with their own PIN. However, he did not know who deposited the 500 euros or who sent the messages.
Regarding the charges of espionage and violation of the confidentiality of telephone communications at a felony level, mentioned in the complaints by Androulakis and Koukakis, the deputy prosecutor is said to have explained that these provisions of the criminal code do not apply, as they would require an actual threat to the free functioning of democracy or national security.