The judge of the National Court, Francisco de Jorge, has released the two young men, aged 18 and 19, arrested on Tuesday in Arinaga (Gran Canaria) for their alleged participation in the 'hacking' of personal data of government ministers, socialist leaders, former PP officials and those under investigation in the Koldo case.
The head of the Central Court of Instruction number 1 of the National Court has adopted this decision after the Prosecutor's Office did not request their imprisonment and after taking their statements this morning after being placed at the disposal of the court in this case, which has been declared secret, legal sources have informed EFE.
They acknowledge some of the facts
In their statement, both have acknowledged some aspects of the investigation and have stated that the published data (address, ID number or email address of the affected personalities) came from public sources.
On the other hand, they have denied having participated in computer attacks on the pages of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), the Treasury or the Neutral Judicial Point of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) or having developed an application to trade with the 'hacked' data.
One of them has also pointed out that an undercover agent was the one who discovered them, according to the sources consulted.
De Jorge took charge of the investigation of these events, which could constitute a crime against the security of the State, following the first data leak on June 19 in a Telegram channel with 92,000 followers.
The main arrested person would be responsible for the leak of personal data of senior state and government officials, according to the Police.
This person, "taking advantage of the publicity and transcendence of these publications, would have illegally sold access to databases containing sensitive information," while the second arrested person was allegedly in charge of monetizing the sale.
The alleged criminal activities of the detainees included collecting payment through the use of cryptocurrencies as a means that facilitates anonymity and makes it difficult for investigators to track the funds.
The leaks
The National Police opened an investigation after learning of the first publication of data that affected the first vice president and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, and the Ministers of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas; Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; Equality, Ana Redondo; and Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz.
