The head of the counter-terrorism police’s technical support department, which is tasked with conducting wiretaps, has been removed from his post, amidst reports that the counter-terrorism police agency was conducting illegal wiretaps. A similar case of illegal wiretaps took place about a year ago in the National Intelligence Service (EYP).
According to police and Public Order Ministry sources, a number of CDs were circulated, which contained telephone conversations that were recorded on behalf of certain businessmen. The same sources point out that this incident prompted the intervention of the Minister of Public Order Vasilis Kikilias.
On Thursday To Vima questioned the Ministry on the allegations, with Mr. Kikilias associates not denying the allegations and noting that “the minister does not want to comment on the subject”, which in turn raises more questions.
The chief of the wiretap department was an experienced office who had participated in high profile police operations that led to the arrest of Nikos Maziotis, the Conspiracy of Fire Cells, as well as the location of Albanian prison escapees in Thesprotia and others. Colleagues reported that they were “surprised” by the department head’s transfer.
It appears that the head had been informed that illegal wiretappings from his department were being circulated, but he was not told anything more. The officer had also requested that the accompanying wiretap reports also include the names of callers, rather than just their telephone numbers.
