The two companies from Taiwan and Hungary that were initially targeted for making the doorbells that exploded in Lebanondeny any responsibility.
The day after the unprecedented attack on the paging system used by Hezbollahthe tracks led to Taiwan. But the group Golden Apollo, whose brand is listed on the devices, denies having manufactured them and has named a collaborating company, BAC of Hungary, as responsible.
What Gold Apollo reported
“Based on a cooperation agreement, license BAC to use our trademark to sell products in certain territories; However, the manufacturing of the products is the sole responsibility of BAC”, which is headquartered in Budapest, Gold Apollo said in its statement.
A few hours later, instead of being clarified, the mystery deepened, after the Hungarian authorities denied the Taiwanese company. BAC “is a business partner” and does not have a factory in Hungary, said Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs. “The devices in question have never been found on Hungarian soil”he emphasized.
‼️ The Hungarian government’s position on the “pager issue”: authorities have confirmed that the company in question is a commercial intermediary, with no production or operation facility in Hungary. It has a registered manager at the declared address, and the referenced…
-Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) September 18, 2024
The company’s president and CEO, Cristiana Barsoni-Archidiacono, when questioned by the American television network NBC, denied having any involvement in the manufacture of the doorbells, confirming only her collaboration with Gold Apollo. “I don’t beep. I’m just mediating. You’re wrong,” he said speaking to the network over the phone.
AFP was unable to reach her.
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The company BAC
BAC Consulting was founded in 2022 and is based in Budapest, in a two-story building on the outskirts of the Hungarian capital. It is owned by a company that provides web page addresses (URLs), according to a woman who visited the site this morning.
Barsoni-Archidiacono is listed as the only employee of the BAC, according to legal documents obtained by AFP. However, the documents mention an annual turnover of 210 million forints (530,000 euros) and an income of 45,000 euros.
On its website, which is no longer accessible, BAC states that it operates “internationally” as an “agent of change, with a network of consultants”.
The chief executive says “strategic consultant for international organizations”.
Sources: AMPE, AFP
