Vienna Cybercrime Trials: Barak’s Confession, Boiler Room Revelations, and a Mysterious Death

The Vienna Cybercrime Trials (VCT) took an unexpected turn as Gal Barak, the Israeli national accused of orchestrating a transnational cybercrime organization under the umbrella of E&G Bulgaria, returned to court. Barak faces serious charges, including investment fraud and money laundering, connected to multiple broker scam operations.

While the prosecution aims to establish his role as a central figure, Barak continues to position himself as an innocent scapegoat. During the latest court session, he made a confusing partial confession and downplayed his involvement. The proceedings became even more unsettling when the testimony of a key witness, a former retention manager, was read aloud—only to learn that the witness had suddenly died under questionable circumstances.

Barak’s Courtroom Strategy: “I Am the Victim”

Barak’s defense narrative now rests on a claim of misunderstanding and victimhood. He denies being the operator or organizer of the scam networks, claiming instead that he was surrounded by others who acted without his knowledge or control.

“Yes, my wife Marina Barak (née Marina Andreeva) held Power of Attorney over E&G Bulgaria and other related entities,” he said, “but she managed these on behalf of other people, not me.”

Barak appeared baffled that only he was being prosecuted despite the existence of many similar scams still active online.

His Claims Summarized:

• He admitted Tradologic, the white-label platform he owned, was used to defraud clients.

• He claims to have known about the fraud, but blames former partners for carrying it out.

• Since 2017, he allegedly moved to using the competing platform PandaTS by Maor Lahav for new operations like XtraderFX, SafeMarkets, and Golden Markets.

• He emphasized that he had no power to stop the fraud and should not be blamed.

This line of reasoning was central to his bizarre partial confession: he knew fraud occurred but insists he was not personally responsible.

The Boiler Room Denial – Contradicted by Witness Testimony

Barak flatly denied any involvement in boiler room operations, stating that he had no association with those environments.

However, court testimony from a former retention agent, known by the alias Alex Mueller, painted a dramatically different picture.

Alex Mueller’s Testimony Highlights:

• Barak was physically present in the Belgrade boiler room (Cactus Marketing DOO) multiple times each week.

• Customer accounts were manipulated using specialized software.

• These manipulations occurred across all scam platforms, including those built on PandaTS, such as:

• XTraderFX

• OptionStars

The contrast between Barak’s testimony and the witness’s statement deeply undermined his credibility.

The Witness Mysteriously Dies

Tragically, shortly after giving his damning testimony, the witness was found dead in Bulgaria.

• Cause of death: Cardiac arrest from a suspected drug overdose.

• Circumstances: Sudden, with no prior medical concerns reported.

This incident, notably convenient for Barak’s defense, is now the second suspicious death linked to the case.

Previous Allegations of Violence and Intimidation

Barak’s reputation as a non-violent businessman is increasingly challenged by those formerly close to him.

Additional Incidents:

• In 2019, two former Serbian partners filed a criminal complaint alleging Barak issued a kill order against them.

• One of the complainants is a respected Belgrade-based lawyer.

• Both claimed to have been physically attacked by Barak’s bodyguards during business disputes.

Another ex-employee in Bulgaria filed a sworn affidavit, stating that she and her children were threatened with death if she disclosed details about E&G Bulgaria’s operations.

The Lenhoff Connection – More Deaths, More Questions

This is not the first death under suspicious circumstances in the Vienna Cybercrime Trials:

The unexplained deaths of key figures raise alarms about the risks faced by whistleblowers in these proceedings.

Conclusion: Vienna Cybercrime Trials Turning Into Global Thriller

The #VCT has evolved beyond a simple financial fraud case. It now touches upon international organized crime, mysterious deaths, and cross-border corruption.

Gal Barak’s insistence that he is a victim rather than a villain is becoming harder to accept in light of the mounting testimonies, digital evidence, and now—tragic fatalities.

🔍 Follow the #VCT tag for continuous updates on this ongoing international investigation.