”Big Brother” Wiretapped Greek Prime Minister’s Phone

Government, state officials and many citizens victims of Olympic Security necessities
Athens.- Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and several ministers had their mobile phones tapped for more than a year, the government has confirmed. A trio of the government’s top ministers, in fact, was holding a nationally televised press conference at press time to answer questions over the unprecedented affair.

News of the investigation was the object of a front-page article in the Athens daily “Ta Nea” on Thursday.

Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos along with Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis and Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras told reporters that 14 pre-paid cell phones, all operating in the Vodafone network, monitored mobile phone conversations of the targeted individuals. Additionally, what the ministers referred to a “phantom software” was located by the company in its system, before it was disabled.

A spokesman said an investigation had been opened, but had not yet discovered who was conducting the surveillance.

The taps are reported to have begun before the Athens Olympics in 2004 and lasted until March last year. They were detected by a telephone company manager dealing with customers who had reported technical problems. About 100 mobiles belonging to politicians from both parties are thought to have been monitored.

“The phones tapped included the prime minister’s, those of cabinet members, one former minister, now in opposition, and others,” government spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos told reporters.

“The phone tapping was carried out by unknown person or persons using high technology.”

THE INVESTIGATION
Regular Examiner Giorgos Aktypis has been assigned to investigate the wiretapping case in order to reveal, if possible, the ones behind the wiretapping string. In the meantime, the Government reassured the wiretapping case did not affect the Greek foreign policy and security of the country, and answering to the harsh criticism of the Opposition on its handlings, Government officials supported they acted as was dictated by such an issue of national importance. In the meantime, in an interview to newspaper Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia , Vodafone’s CEO, Giorgos Koronias, declared that no evidence has been destroyed, while he stressed that the company executives will submit everything to the authorities. On his part, Justice Minister Anastasis Papaligouras spoke of a provocation.

Vodafone’s spokesperson will appear before the Hellenic Authority for the Information and Communication Security and Privacy on Thursday to provide clarifications on the wiretapping case, while on Tuesday, Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis will brief the Parliament’s Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency on the case.

Meanwhile, according to NET’s information, men of the Hellenic Authority for the Information and Communication Security and Privacy visited Vodafone’s offices in Chalandri in order to check for any other network violations and certify the copy of the software, which the company claims to own, can provide evidence that would lead Authorities to the perpetrators.

In an interview to newspaper Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia, Vodafone’s CEO, Giorgos Koronias, stressed that no software has been destroyed, while he did not rule out the possibility of significant evidence being found. However, he noted that he removed the surveillance program because “the company had to react immediately.”

However, the 24th Regular Examiner, who was assigned the investigation, will try to pinpoint who gave the order to Mr Koronias to shut down the software on 8/3/2005. Expert engineers and executives of Vodafone Hellas and parent company Ericsson will be called to testify in the context of the investigation. According to judicial sources, no responsibilities against the company’s CEO arise from the preliminary investigation, but anything is possible after the investigation. They also described the case as unheard-of for Greece and stressed that Justice has some tough questions to answer to, given the sophisticated and technical characteristics of the case.

In the meantime, a stir was created with the statements by Computer Science Prof Emmanouil Giannoudakis. In his announcement, he did not rule out the possibility of only telephone conversations being tapped, since he believes that the culprits also control other communication networks, including the Internet.

SUSPICIOUS SUICIDE
What is more, investigations continue to see if the suicide of Vodafone’s 38-year-old executive is linked to the wiretapping scandal. The Attica Police Department is already looking into the deceased’s computer and in documents, which he handled. The mobile company on the other hand, stressed any attempt to link the two events is pointless.

Authorities are also investigating another brief on the murder of one of Vodafone’s employees in September 2003. The employee was found dead in his home after being hit on the head with a bottle. The police had then said it was a crime of passion. Now, the brief is re-examined to see if there is any link to the wiretapping case.

In the meantime, the suicide of the 38-year-old took a new turn on Saturday, as one of his childhood friends, Sokratis Liolios, found a handwritten note that said: “Choose a way to die.” The note was signed by the “Blood donor” and a swastika was also drawn on it.

In addition, the deceased’s brother contacted Prosecutor Ioannis Diotis, who has brought criminal proceedings for the wiretapping case, and asked to testify. Is should be noted that those close to the 38-year-old have repeatedly said that the man had no reason to take his own life, but kept telling his friends that he was under pressure at his work.

The man worked for Vodafone’s software security, as he had access to all the passwords and all the shops. As per the experts, even if he knew nothing or was not implicated, he would have been one of the main witnesses on whom Justice would rely to find the perpetrators.

POLITICAL DISPUTE
The wiretapping case has triggered disputes once again between the Government and the Opposition. Government officials are claiming that the case was handled with responsibility and solemnity, in order to secure the citizens’ constitutional rights and the country’s safety.

On its part, PASOK accused the Government of not handling the case correctly, as it should have notified the other parties and the victims.

Finally, KKE accused the Government and PASOK of being responsible for the scandal. “The Government is not exonerated of its obligations by referring the wiretapping case to Justice. The fact alone that it kept quiet for 11 months make its accountable,” said the communist party in an announcement.

GALLOP
In an opinion poll conducted on 3 February by VPRC for newspaper Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia, 80% of the 537 people asked believe that the telephone conversations are not safe, while 73% believe that the Government has not revealed all the evidence relating to the wiretapping case.

In the question, “Who would have benefited from organising an intelligence network?” 25% answered foreign secret services, 23% foreign governments and embassies, 13% private business interests, 10% other interests within the country and 8% the Greek secret services.

In addition, 39% speak of the government handling the case incorrectly, 31% correctly and 25% offered no opinion. In the same poll, 62% of the citizens believe that the culprits will not be found, while 77% said that the strings pertain to other companies apart from Vodafone.