Europe

Serbian prosecutor targeted with spyware after probing Trump tower deal

Apple warned Rade Bajić of mercenary attack on his iPhone, Kushner abandoned Belgrade project after indictments and Vučić vowed reprisals against prosecutors

Images

Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was leading plans for the development in Belgrade, which had attracted protests – the banner reads: ‘We won’t give up the General Staff building.’ Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was leading plans for the development in Belgrade, which had attracted protests – the banner reads: ‘We won’t give up the General Staff building.’ Photograph: Andrej Isaković/AFP/Getty Images theguardian.com
A screenshot from Trumpbelgrade.com shows the renderings of the proposed Belgrade development. Photograph: Trumpbelgrade.com A screenshot from Trumpbelgrade.com shows the renderings of the proposed Belgrade development. Photograph: Trumpbelgrade.com theguardian.com
Jared Kushner, left, was hosted in Belgrade by the then president, Aleksandar Vučić. Photograph: Instagram/Aleksandar Vucic Jared Kushner, left, was hosted in Belgrade by the then president, Aleksandar Vučić. Photograph: Instagram/Aleksandar Vucic theguardian.com
Aleksander Vučić, seen here with Donald Trump Jr, right, cannot run for a third presidential term so is attempting to become Serbia’s prime minister. Photograph: Facebook/Aleksandar Vucic Aleksander Vučić, seen here with Donald Trump Jr, right, cannot run for a third presidential term so is attempting to become Serbia’s prime minister. Photograph: Facebook/Aleksandar Vucic theguardian.com

Rade Bajić, the Serbian prosecutor who investigated an allegedly illegal scheme to hand a protected Belgrade site to the Trump family for a 500 million dollar hotel and tower, was targeted with advanced mercenary spyware, analysis by the Citizen Lab digital forensics laboratory has found.

Apple notified Bajić in August that it had "detected a targeted mercenary attack against your iPhone". Citizen Lab researchers called the notification "a high confidence indicator that his device was likely targeted with mercenary spyware, such as Pegasus", and said they had not established who was behind the attack. Bajić, a member of the specialised organised-crime unit that brought the case, is in no doubt: "In my opinion, my involvement in this case was the sole reason for this unlawful spyware attack."

The project sits at the centre of the case. The Guardian reported last week that President Aleksandar Vučić personally ordered the site — the former General Staff building, which protesters have defended under banners reading "We won't give up the General Staff building" — stripped of its legal protection so it could be handed over for the Trump hotel and tower led by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. Prosecutors last year indicted senior members of Vučić's regime for abusing their office to strip the building of its protected status; the accused face years in prison if convicted. Kushner called off the Belgrade development after the charges were made public, and Vučić denounced the prosecutors who brought them, Bajić included.

The Serbian regime has been caught using spyware against opponents before. The Citizen Lab, working with the Share Foundation, a Serbian rights group, has previously identified spyware attacks against anti-government protesters. In February, Bajić addressed demonstrators gathered against widespread corruption, telling them: "The law will be equal for all." Shortly before the indictment was published, he was taken off the case without explanation.

Vučić, who hosted Donald Trump Jr and Kushner in Belgrade and refers to the president's son as "dear Don", responded to the Guardian's revelations at the weekend by confirming details of a previously secret meeting. "I fought for my people," he said. "And that's what I'll continue to do in the future."