Bogota /
The head of Colombian intelligence denounced this Monday that the government of former President Iván Duque bought Israeli spyware Pegasus with money from money launderingaccording to an investigation ordered by President Gustavo Petro.
Since the beginning of this month, Colombian authorities have been following the trail of the Alleged purchase in 2021 of the computer program that infects mobile phones to extract information from them.
According to the complaint that Petro made in a televised address on September 4, the software was acquired in exchange for $11 million in cash during the government of his predecessor and political rival, the right-wing Iván Duque (2018-2022).
“In the investigation we are carrying out, we are certain that it is money laundering,” said the director of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), Jorge Lemusin an interview broadcast this Monday on the public channel Colombia signal.
Pegasus became known worldwide in 2021, when a consortium of 17 international media outlets revealed that thousands of public figures were spied on Mexico, Hungary, Poland, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
“We are certain that it was money laundering”:
Media in Israel and Colombia had already reported this alleged irregular transaction between the Colombian police and NSO Group, maker of Pegasuswhose features include remotely activating a phone’s camera and microphone.
Lemus added that NSO Group “declared the money” in Israel, but committed irregularities upon receiving payment in Colombia.
The money “went out illegally, they left no trace. They were committing a crime, they were committing misdeeds,” he added.
“There are indications of Pegasus being used, not purchased”:
Duque government officials deny having made any arrangements to purchase the software in 2021, the year in which the administration was targeted by Massive protests left dozens dead.
Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo recently stated that there is no certainty about the use in Colombia of Pegasus, a “very sophisticated software” and difficult to track.
Petro broke diplomatic relations with Israel in May over the war in the Gaza Strip.
SNGZ
