Govt Task Force Finds Illegal Use of Bugging Device at SOVA

Ljubljana, 20 June

A government task force investigating suspected wrongdoing at the intelligence agency SOVA has found that a device for eavesdropping on mobile phone conversations might have been used unlawfully. It is suspected that the device was being used unlawfully in Slovenia between 1999 and 2005, government spokesman Valentin Hajdinjak told the press on Wednesday as he presented the fourth interim report of the task force.

The existence of a mobile device for intercepting calls between mobile phones had already been confirmed in previous visits of the task force to SOVA headquarters.
The government has claimed that a van with the device had travelled 12,000 kilometres around Slovenia which are unaccounted for in administrative reports.
Former SOVA director Iztok Podbregar claims it was never used in Slovenia (SOVA's task is to protect the country from external threats), and hinted that the van might not have been new when the device was installed.
Hajdinjak said the government would submit the report to prosecution and ask the criminal police to investigate the suspicion.
Hajdinjak could not discuss the content of the report. He said it was classified because it contained many specific pieces of information that should not be made public in the interest of the investigation.
The previous three reports were declassified by government decree and Hajdinjak is convinced that the appropriate authorities would inform the public about the outcome of the investigation.
Hajdinjak could not say how many interim reports would follow. "It is in our interest to eliminate the irregularities and that those responsible are sanctioned by the appropriate authorities."
The previous three reports revealed that SOVA had a black-ops fund which was not regulated by law; that it had unlawfully established a front company; and that it seems to have bought a plane ticket for an Indian healer for President Janez Drnovsek.

Govt Task Force Finds Illegal Use of Bugging Device at SOVA

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