Intellexa Executives Sentenced in Greece Over Predator Spyware Scandal

A Greek court has convicted four individuals linked to Intellexa, a spyware developer, for their involvement in the illegal wiretapping of government officials, military personnel, and journalists. The case, dubbed “Greek Watergate,” centers around the use of the company’s Predator spyware to target over 90 prominent Greeks, including opposition leaders and media figures.

Convictions and Sentences

On February 26, 2026, the court sentenced Tal Dilian, founder of Intellexa and a former commander in an elite Israeli intelligence unit, along with Sara Hamou, his ex-wife and business partner; Felix Bitzios, an Intellexa executive; and Yiannis Lavranos, owner of a Greek security firm that purchased Intellexa’s Predator spyware, to eight years in prison. The sentences are suspended pending appeals. The convictions stem from charges of breaching the confidentiality of telephone communications and illegally accessing information systems [ICIJ].

The Predator Spyware and its Use

Predator spyware allows covert access to a mobile device, extracting messages, photos, contacts, and files, and can even remotely activate microphones and cameras [ICIJ]. The spyware was reportedly used in Greece as early as 2022 [TechCrunch].

International Scrutiny and Sanctions

The case has drawn international attention, particularly following a 2023 investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) as part of the Cyprus Confidential project, which revealed Intellexa’s sales of spyware to regimes with questionable human rights records [ICIJ]. Dilian, Hamou, and Bitzios were sanctioned by the U.S. Government in 2024, though sanctions against Hamou were later lifted in 2025 [ICIJ].

Impact Beyond Greece

The use of Predator spyware extends beyond Greece. In May 2024, the spyware was used to hack the phone of Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido, who had been advocating for media freedom [ICIJ]. Amnesty International similarly discovered the software targeting a human rights lawyer in Pakistan in 2025 [ICIJ]. Intellexa’s clients have included entities in Sudan, Egypt, and Vietnam [ICIJ].

Further Investigation

The Greek court has agreed to share the trial record with judicial authorities to investigate potential additional offenses by the convicted individuals and others involved in the scandal [Greek City Times]. Prosecutors are considering whether to bring espionage charges [Greek City Times].

Tal Dilian has stated his intention to appeal the ruling, claiming the verdict is “fundamentally irreconcilable with the evidentiary record” [ICIJ].