Cyprus was mentioned in a federal court case in New York involving an Israeli private detective who pleaded guilty to investigating a vast group of hackers for hire.
The group allegedly targeted hedge funds, short-sellers, journalists and climate change advocacy groups.
Aviram Azari, 50, pleaded guilty a week ago to three counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit computer hacking.
Azari was accused of collaborating with hackers who contacted potential victims through phishing emails. He admitted that he hired them on behalf of his clients.
As for the connection with the Mediterranean island, this happened after the court learned that Azari was associated with the well-known Russian oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska, who also has Cypriot citizenship.
In addition, Azari allegedly registered three legal entities with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies between 2016 and 2018 (MALEMO LTD, VINENCIA LTD and NEROSIA LTD). In all three companies, he was registered as the sole director.
In one of these companies, changes were made to the composition of the board of directors, and a relative of Deripaska was announced in a leadership position back in October 2019.
A private detective from Israel was arrested by US federal agents in the summer of 2019.
Source : KIPR Inform