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Law Firm Dechert Says Lawsuits Over Alleged Use of Hired Hackers Have Been Resolved

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Philadelphia-based law firm Dechert announced on Thursday that two U.S. lawsuits accusing it of employing hired hackers to gain courtroom advantages have been resolved without any admission of liability.

The lawsuits stem from claims made by aviation executive Farhad Azima, who in 2022 filed suit in federal court in Manhattan against Dechert, U.S. public relations professionals, and a private investigator. Azima alleged they orchestrated the hacking and leaking of his emails. A related lawsuit was also filed in North Carolina against private investigator Nicholas Del Rosso with similar allegations.

While Dechert had settled with Azima last year, proceedings against other defendants—including Israeli private investigator Amit Forlit, lawyer Amir Handjani, and New York PR firm Karv Communications—continued until recently. Legal documents indicate that motions to dismiss both the New York and North Carolina lawsuits with prejudice were filed late Wednesday.

Azima expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I am thrilled and feel vindicated.” However, neither Azima, Dechert, nor the other parties disclosed details of the resolution or whether any new settlements were reached.

Dechert, Handjani, Karv, and Karv’s president Andrew Frank released identical statements confirming that all claims have been resolved without any admission of liability. Representatives for Del Rosso and Forlit did not respond to requests for comment.

Azima was previously found liable for fraud by a London court in 2020, a case heavily influenced by leaked private emails. He later accused Dechert—then representing a Middle Eastern investment fund involved in the case—of facilitating the email leaks. Following a Reuters investigation into email hacking linked to court cases, Azima successfully had his UK judgments overturned.

Forlit, accused by Azima as a key conspirator, is currently contesting extradition to the U.S. on separate cybercrime charges and has denied involvement in hacking.

Romania arrests 13 in phishing scam targeting British tax office

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Thirteen individuals have been arrested in Romania following phishing attacks targeting the UK’s tax authority, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The suspects are believed to have used stolen data to fraudulently claim millions of pounds in tax payments, HMRC announced on Thursday.

The arrests involved a coordinated effort with over 100 Romanian police officers, focusing on the southern counties of Ilfov, Giurgiu, and Calarasi. During the raids, authorities seized cash and luxury vehicles. The arrested individuals, aged between 23 and 53, face charges including computer fraud, money laundering, and illegal access to computer systems.

Additionally, a 38-year-old man was arrested in Preston, northwest England, on the same day. These actions follow HMRC’s disclosure last month that a criminal gang had stolen approximately £47 million ($63.7 million) by accessing over 100,000 customer accounts through phishing schemes and submitting false payment claims to the government.

HMRC emphasized that the fraud targeted the tax office rather than individual customers, though around 100,000 people were notified as a precaution. Criminal groups allegedly used the stolen data to file fraudulent claims for income tax, value-added tax (VAT), and child benefit repayments.

Simon Grunwell, operational lead of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said the agency has already taken steps to protect affected customers after detecting attempts to access a small portion of tax accounts.

Earlier, in November, two men were arrested in Bucharest as part of related cybercrime and fraud investigations linked to these phishing activities.

Malaysia Obtains Court Order Against Telegram Over Harmful Content

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Malaysia’s communications regulator announced on Thursday it has secured a temporary court order against messaging platform Telegram and two specific channels for allegedly spreading content that violates Malaysian law.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it sought the order due to Telegram’s “serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported.” The two targeted Telegram channels, named “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas,” reportedly contained material with the potential to undermine public trust in national institutions and disrupt social harmony.

A Malaysian high court granted an interim injunction to halt the dissemination of the harmful content and prevent its republication. The commission did not specify the exact nature of the content.

Telegram did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The MCMC emphasized that Telegram would be given a fair chance to defend itself in accordance with justice and fundamental rights.

In January, Malaysia enacted a new social media law requiring platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in the country to obtain licenses or face legal penalties. The law targets rising cybercrime and increasing harmful social media content.

Malaysian authorities classify online gambling, scams, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying, and content related to race, religion, and royalty as harmful under the law.