German authorities are known for their slow thoroughness. The culture of the Germans is to plan and build complex things and then run the machine effectively. It took a few years to get the machine running even in the fight against cybercrime and scammers. But now the war machine is running. They waged war on the Israeli cybercrime scene. Reportedly, Gal Barak‘s deputy Kfir Levy has now also been arrested in the Philippines. At the request of the German authorities.
Kfir Levy was Gal Barak‘s right-hand man and confidant. Along with his wife Marina Barak and Itzik Gellet, Levy is believed to have been one of the key managers in the E&G Bulgaria cybercrime organization. We have heard that in recent months Kfir Levy was working as a manager of an illegal boiler room in the Philippines. So, he was earning his money as a cybercrime activist until the very end. We still lack the details. Stay tuned, stay informed.
Gal Barak was sentenced to four years in prison in Vienna in September 2020. He was recently released and has reportedly been brought to Israel by private jet. The German prosecutor’s office responsible for the arrest of Kfir Levy has also requested the extradition of Gal Barak for the purpose of a new indictment. Gal’s law firm appealed against the extradition request. The case is currently before the European Court of Justice.
Gal’s wife Marina Barak was acquitted at trial, but the prosecution has appealed and still wants her convicted of investment fraud and money laundering. Gal Barak‘s partners, Gery Shalon and Vladislav Smirnov are also listed as suspects in the criminal file and are to be charged. Whether they will be charged in Austria or Germany is not yet clear.
