Trial over illegal surveillance: Testimony of former Hellenic Police chief sparks tensions
17:18, 28/11/2025 — Reported by Anna Kandili, APE-MPE
Sharp exchanges and tense moments were recorded at the trial concerning illegal surveillance using the Predator spyware. Today’s witnesses included former Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) chief Konstantinos Tsouvalas and lawyer Ilias Spyrliadis. Their answers repeatedly drew reactions from the court president and the public prosecutor.
Konstantinos Tsouvalas testified that the Greek Police had entered into partnerships with companies such as Krikel without vetting the individual representatives of those firms, saying such checks were not carried out because there were “guarantees from the political leadership.” He also stated he had no cooperation with the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and that he first learned of the company through maintenance work on the TETRA communications system in 2014.
The court president reacted strongly to those claims, asking rhetorically: “You had only one document in front of you and you awarded so many millions of euros? I could have sent a document then too!” The public prosecutor pressed similarly, questioning whether the police could forgo checks on companies and individuals because “the political leadership’s guarantee was more reliable.”
Tsouvalas maintained that he did not know Krikel’s legal representatives and that his contacts were limited to a technical advisor. Regarding the accused businessman Giannis Lavranos, Tsouvalas said Lavranos was the only person he knew but that they did not have any close relationship. The court, however, reminded him of his presence at a social event linked to the Lavranos family — a question that reignited tension in the courtroom.
Later, lawyer Ilias Spyrliadis testified; he is said to have presented himself as a representative of Intellexa. Spyrliadis described his role as purely formal and without substantive participation, saying, “They used me as a courier.” He asserted his involvement was limited to receiving documents and that he had no access to information about the company’s operations or activities. He added that he ended the association after reading news reports online and that he sent legal notices to terminate any relationship.
Source: Article by Anna Kandili, APE-MPE.
