The ex-heads of Poland’s domestic and military intelligence are being prosecuted for alleged use of the software without proper clearance
The national prosecutor’s office has declared that the former directors of Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) have been accused of purportedly using Pegasus spyware.
Following the assumption of power by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government in late 2023, it initiated several investigations into the alleged usage of the controversial software created by the Israeli firm NSO Group. The new authorities have asserted that the former Law and Justice (PiS) government extensively used the program to spy on opposition politicians. Nevertheless, former officials have maintained that the accusations are politically inspired.
On Wednesday, the prosecutor’s office stated that Piotr Pogonowski, the head of ABW, and Maciej Materka, the former chief of SKW, are currently facing accusations of violating their official responsibilities. The prosecution mentioned that these charges, which can result in a maximum prison term of three years, are connected to the alleged use of Pegasus without proper authorization and “without verifying if this system complies with information protection requirements.” It was noted that both former officials have denied any misdeeds and declined to provide testimony.
Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has also been involved in the Pegasus scandal. In September of last year, he was apprehended and taken before a parliamentary committee examining the use of the Israeli-manufactured spyware. He acknowledged initiating the acquisition of Pegasus. Ziobro contended that it was used to “pursue criminals, not political adversaries” and was generally a “wise choice.”
Immediately after the hearing, the former minister was hit with 26 criminal counts, such as embezzlement of state resources, leading a criminal organization, and interfering with tender processes. In November of last year, while in Budapest, Ziobro’s immunity was revoked and an arrest warrant was issued. The politician rejected all charges, choosing to remain in Hungary and obtaining political asylum there early in January.
Discovered for the first time in 2016, Pegasus software has been at the heart of numerous high-profile scandals globally, with officials repeatedly being caught using it for dubious purposes. The program is tailored to target iOS devices and is thought to be able to conduct call interception, read text messages, track locations, gather passwords, and other malicious actions.