Cyprus was also mentioned in a federal court case in New York involving an Israeli private investigator who pleaded guilty in a probe of a vast hacking-for-hire ring.
The ring allegedly targeted hedge funds, short sellers, journalists and advocacy groups fighting climate change.
Fifty-year-old Aviram Azari entered his plea a week ago to three counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit computer hacking.
Azari was accused of working with hackers who targeted potential victims with phishing emails. He acknowledged hiring them on behalf of his clients.
As for the connection with the Mediterranean island this came after the court heard that Azari was associated with well-known Russia oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska who also has Cypriot nationality.
Moreover, Azari has allegedly registered three corporate entities with the Cyprus Registrar of Companies between 2016 and 2018 (MALEMO LTD, VINENCIA LTD and NEROSIA LTD). In all three companies he was recorded as their sole director.
In one of these companies, a change was made in terms of its board of directors and a relative was later declared in a managerial position back in October 2019.
The private investigator from Israel was arrested by US federal agents in the summer of 2019.
Source: Phile News