Israeli firm hired by unknown source to spy on DNA chief prosecutor Kovesi

Four Israeli citizens are being investigated by the Department for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) for spying communications and attempts to discredit Laura Codruta Kovesi, chief prosecutor with the National Anticorruption Department (DNA), according to data from the Rise Project.

Two of the suspects, Ron Weiner and David Geclowicz have been detained for 30 days in allegations concerning the “formation of an organized crime group, illegal access to a computer system, unauthorized transfer of data, alteration of computer data integrity, through repeated, illegal operations with devices and software,” according to a statement by the DIICOT.

The two other suspects, Dan Zorella and Avi Yanus, are former intelligence officers and the co-founders and CEOs of Israeli private investigation firm Black Cube. The company is known to have had ties with Meir Dagan, former director of Mossad (Israeli intelligence) during 2002-2011.

Weiner and Geclowicz are said to have contacted several people in the family and close circle of people known to Kovesi during March and to have broken into three e-mail accounts.

The DIICOT chief prosecutor stated for Rise Project that investigations are in the preliminary stage and that details cannot be given at the time. He added that it is still unknown who hired the Israeli Black Cube to spy the DNA representative.

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Laura Codruta Kovesi’s first reaction to the news was to say that it was “a failed attempt to intimidate”.

The Black Cube company was founded in 2010 in Tel Aviv and has branches in London and Paris. The company provides legal and intelligence services.

Meir Dagan, former head of Mossad between 2002 and 2011, was honorary chairman of the company until two weeks ago, when he died (March 17th 2016).

Natalia Martian