A bug and hidden camera were among items found at Achilleas Kallakis’ Atlas Management HQ, after he hired a forensic investigation company to alleviate his fears that the company was being spied on.
Kallakis and his business partner, Alexander Williams, are facing charges over an alleged fraud against Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Scotland. Both men are pleading not guilty to the charges.
A former Atlas Management employee who is unable to be named for legal reasons, told Southwark Crown Court: “Kallakis told me he was concerned about information leaking from the company. He mentioned that some information had appeared in property journals ahead of negotiations taking place.”
Consequently, QCC Information Security was appointed by Kallakis in May 2008 to investigate the premises at 8 Carlos Place, W1. The witness claimed that a bug was found attached to Kallakis’ calculator, with the receiver discovered in Williams’ desk drawer.
He also said a camera was hidden in a smoke alarm in the firm’s boardroom, which relayed back to Kallakis’ office. “I told Kallakis about the bug. He called back and said not to worry,” he said.
The court adjourned ahead of the witness explaining why he believed Kallakis dismissed QCC’s finding.
Meanwhile, earlier the same day, the same witness said Atlas was fined by the British Software Alliance in Q2 2008.
“We were written to by the BSA. They informed us that they understood that we had illegal software and had to make a change in a few weeks, which we were unable to do,” said the employee.
The firm was fined and a renewal and replacement of the IT servers was undertaken.
However, the witness claimed Kallakis and Williams operated from their own laptops, and did not use the new IT system. Therefore their e-mails could not be picked up on the group server.
Kallakis used Hotmail, while Williams was using an e-mail address registered to a German server, it was alleged.
The witness also revealed that on one occasion Williams asked him about whether “his e-mail system could ever come under scrutiny by someone other than himself”.
The case continues.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
