Alberto August Claims Authorities Trying to Hack Seized Phones

On May thirtieth, officers moved in on the home of former UDP Deputy Chairman Alberto August, seizing two cellphones during a search of his property. Now, August claims authorities are trying to access, or even hack, those devices. He admits to making social media posts about Home Affairs Minister Oscar Mira following the murder of Dr. Nuan Bonilla but insists there’s nothing incriminating on the phones. At the same time, he says the seizure has created serious disruptions to his daily life, adding another layer to an already tense situation.

 

Alberto August, Former Deputy Chair, UDP

“I do not know why they did not take everything, but all they did was that they took the two phones that I had and they left with those. What prompted this situation was, as it’s widely known now, a post I made on social media, on Facebook. And when they came, I told them that I am not denying making the post, I am not at all denying making the post. I told them yes, I made the post and I will stand by that. What I was saying was that according to all the advice that I have been getting is that the post is not criminal in nature. And notwithstanding that, as was ably expressed by Mr. Peyrefitte, there was no need for them to search for the phone because I am not denying that I made the post. It has been a great inconvenience. Right now, I have a few persons who are waiting for contracts. Because all the formats are on the phone and persons who are making payments, you can’t give them the receipts because all of that system is on the phone. So in terms of my business operating systems it’s on the phone.”

 

August says he stands by his social media post, but claims the seizure of his phones has disrupted his business and daily operations.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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