Anti-corruption authority to announce decision on ‘black van’ case on Monday

Nicosia, Cyprus. The anti-corruption authority will issue an announcement on Monday regarding the ‘black van’ spying case, commissioner Haris Poyiadjis told the House institutions committee on Wednesday. The case concerns surveillance equipment operated from a van by private company WiSpear.

Committee discussion

Poyiadjis was responding to a question from Alma MP Irene Charalambides on whether the authority had begun examining the case.

The announcement follows renewed calls for the case to be reopened and for the authority to use its powers to investigate potential corruption.

Akel MP Constantinos Constantinou said his party believed the case had been closed for reasons that had not been adequately explained and called for a new examination.

Constantinou said continued references to “public interest” without further explanation were insufficient. He argued that reopening the case would strengthen public confidence in the rule of law.

2019 investigation

The case dates to 2019, when police began investigating WiSpear after its then chief executive, Tal Dilian, publicly promoted surveillance technology installed in a converted ambulance.

The vehicle was equipped with technology capable of intercepting electronic communications and accessing mobile devices within a stated range.

WiSpear said the van had only been used in Cyprus for field tests and demonstrations involving company-owned devices and with the knowledge of the authorities.

Legal proceedings

In November 2021, attorney-general George Savvides suspended the criminal prosecution of Dilian and two other defendants.

Charges against WiSpear Systems continued, with the company later pleading guilty to several personal data violations and receiving a €76,000 fine.