About this Episode
"In this episode of Greek News in English, we explore key moments from April 23rd's third hearing in Athens concerning Greece's notorious Predator spyware case involving four accused individuals linked to illegal surveillance activities authorized under previous government licenses. We discuss defense objections targeting alleged deficiencies in official indictment documents necessary for fair trial preparation; prosecution responses emphasizing legal sufficiency; courtroom procedural delays due to translation needs; and surprising cross-support among defense lawyers challenging personal liability versus corporate responsibility claims within this complex espionage scandal." Based on 'Δίκη Predator, δικάσιμος 3: Όταν η δικηγόρος του Λαβράνου στήριξε Φέλιξ Μπίτζιο και Ταλ Ντίλιαν' by Θοδωρής Χονδρόγιαννος at reportersunited.gr.
Article Discussed: "Δίκη Predator, δικάσιμος 3: Όταν η δικηγόρος του Γιάννη Λαβράνου στήριξε Φέλιξ Μπίτζιο και Ταλ Ντίλιαν"
Author: Θοδωρής Χονδρόγιαννος
https://www.reportersunited.gr/16240/diki-predator-dikasimos-3-bitzios-lavranos/
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Episode Transcript
Luca: Welcome back to Greek News in English. Today, we're diving into the latest developments in the Predator spyware trial, which took place on April 23rd, 2025, at the Athens Single-Member Court of First Instance. The defense lawyers for the four accused tried once again to annul the criminal prosecution against their clients but were rejected by the court.
Lane: That's right, Luca. The case involves serious allegations related to illegal surveillance using Predator spyware. This third hearing saw defense attorneys challenge the indictment document itself, called the 'Klitirio Thespisma,' arguing it lacks essential information needed for a fair defense. Meanwhile, the court postponed proceedings to allow translation of key documents before continuing on May 19th.
Luca: Let's break down what actually happened during this third hearing. The defense lawyers filed a new objection against the indictment because it allegedly doesn't include crucial details like dates, times, and infected links of malicious messages sent through Predator. They claim this omission makes it impossible for their clients to understand exactly what crimes they're accused of and prepare their defense accordingly.
Lane: Exactly. Defense lawyer Giannis Kyriakidis, representing one of the accused named Bitzios, emphasized that without such details in the indictment, it's impossible to build a proper defense strategy or prove innocence. Other defense attorneys echoed this view, insisting that these missing elements violate legal requirements and hinder their clients' rights.
Luca: On the other side, the prosecution argued that the indictment contains all legally required information per Supreme Court rulings — specifying penalties and facts constituting both objective and subjective elements of crimes. They said further evidence will emerge during trial proceedings and that indictments don't need to be as detailed as judicial decisions.
Lane: The prosecution's position was supported by lawyer Christos Kaklamanis, who represents Nikos Androulakis — a target of both EYP surveillance and Predator spyware. He pointed out that from the indictment it's clear how and when Predator messages were sent, so there's no doubt defendants know what they're charged with. Meanwhile, concerns were raised about repeated delays due to ongoing objections from defense lawyers.
Luca: Indeed, after rejecting this latest objection against the indictment document, the court accepted a request from defense lawyers to pause proceedings so essential documents could be translated into languages understood by some defendants — notably Tal Dilian and Sarah Hamou. The goal is to have translations ready by May 15th for continuation on May 19th.
Lane: An intriguing moment came when Eleftheria Rizou — lawyer for Lavranos — unexpectedly spoke in support of Bitzios and Dilian during her argumentation despite them not being her clients. She argued that defendants shouldn't be prosecuted personally for acts attributed mainly to companies involved like Intellexa and Krikel. Her stance surprised many attendees given defendants often try to downplay connections with others implicated in this surveillance scandal.
Luca: So summing up: The core dispute revolves around whether the indictment sufficiently informs defendants about charges so they can mount an effective defense. The court has so far sided with prosecution but granted time for translations amid ongoing procedural wrangling. Plus, we saw unexpected legal alliances emerge within defense teams adding complexity to an already high-profile case involving government-authorized spyware sales.
Lane: Absolutely, Luca. This trial highlights challenges in balancing legal procedure with transparency and defendants’ rights amid sensitive national security issues like spyware misuse. We’ll keep following how these developments unfold leading up to May’s next hearing date. Thanks for joining us on Greek News in English today — until next time!
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