We reported last week on the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the case of Gal Barak. The CJEU stated that Barak and his accomplices could be charged in any EU member state where they defrauded citizens with broker scams. Thus, according to the information available, the German prosecutor’s office around Nino Goldbeck will move forward quickly with the indictment of Gal Barak and his wife, Marina Barak. A trial in Germany could begin in the fall.
Defendants And Witnesses
The German indictments name both Gal Barak and his Bulgarian wife, Marina Barak, ringleaders of the E&G Bulgaria cybercrime organization. We have learned that potential witnesses for the trial are being threatened. This mainly concerns former Bulgarian employees who have told us they are afraid to testify because of the threats.
It was further reported that the German prosecutors are also interested in Barak’s partner Gery Shalon. The latter has pleaded guilty in the U.S. to cybercrime activities, securities manipulation, and money laundering. The sentencing is not yet known. Allegedly, Shalon made a deal with the U.S. prosecutors, snitched on his accomplices, and revealed important information about the Russian hacker scene. He is also currently believed to be in Israel.
Extradition Request
The Barak family is currently in Israel, according to our informants. It is unclear whether the German authorities have already submitted an extradition request to Israel. Israel and the Federal Republic are members of the European Convention on Extradition. In principle, therefore, the two states extradite to each other. As recently as 2021, a German citizen wanted on suspicion of fraud and money laundering in the millions was extradited from Israel to Germany.
Share Information
If you have information about Gal Barak‘s former cybercrime organization, please share it through our whistleblower system, Whistle42.
