Thursday, 14th November 2024

Dubai ruler hacked ex wife's phone 11 times using "Pegasus"

The ruler of Dubai hacked the phone of his ex-wife, Princess Haya, with the controversial Pegasus spyware of the NSO Group.

Thursday, 7th October 2021

Ruler of Dubai with his ex wife Princess Haya
The ruler of Dubai hacked the phone of his ex-wife, Princess Haya, with the controversial Pegasus spyware of the NSO Group. A UK based Judge ruled it as an illegal abuse of power and trust.

The family division's president declared that agents are acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, who hacked devices.

The hacked individuals include two of Haya's lawyers, one of whom, Fiona Shackleton, is sitting in the House of Lords and is ousted by hacker Cherie Blair, who works with the controversial Israeli NSO group.

In July, Guardian discoveries reported for the first time that Haya and her staff were on a dataset believed to be of interest to an NSO government client, thought to be Dubai.

Sir Andrew McFarlane's damning verdict of 5 May, published only now, seems to confirm these results as part of the Pegasus project investigation - and goes on to say that illegal surveillance was, in fact, conducted.

As per reports, Haya's personal devices, including her cell phone was hacked more than 11 times in August and July last year.

Police said it had been informed of the alleged hacking last year and that detectives had conducted "significant investigations" over the course of five months, but the investigation was closed in February due to "no further investigation".

Although McFarlane's findings were based on a low standard of evidence, which needs a conclusion on the balance of likeliness other than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt, a Met Police spokesman said: "We will, of course, review any new information or evidence that comes to light. in connection with these allegations. "