An Israeli company is facing a lawsuit seeking approximately NIS 2 million in damages after a cellphone-tracking system purchased by the Mexican government for roughly $1 million was allegedly plagued by serious hardware and software failures that rendered it unusable.

According to a report by Calcalist, Mexico’s justice authorities returned the system to local intermediary Comercializadora Antsua after experiencing repeated problems with equipment supplied by Petach Tikvah-based Israeli surveillance technology company Septier.

The Guardian Septier system was purchased in a deal valued at approximately $1 million, or roughly 18 million Mexican pesos.

Reports by Mexico’s attorney general cited frequent disconnections, reception problems and battery performance that allegedly fell approximately 50% short of the manufacturer’s commitments.

During field testing in police vans, the system reportedly failed to locate targets even from distances of only several dozen meters.

It also allegedly lost targets in areas with large concentrations of cellular antennas and repeatedly required technicians to shut the equipment down and restart it.

Antsua claims that the technical failures went beyond poor performance and placed security personnel operating the equipment in the field at risk.

Following problems with the first system delivered in April 2019, Septier supplied a replacement system the following month, according to the report. The replacement, however, allegedly experienced additional failures during field tests and was also deemed unusable.

Antsua has since launched legal proceedings against Septier in Israel, seeking approximately NIS 2 million in compensation for the lost transaction and other alleged financial damages.

Attorney Benny Baratz, who represents Septier, told Calcalist that the company had received the lawsuit and would review the allegations before responding through the legal process.

“The company has received the lawsuit, will study it, and will respond in court at the appropriate time,” Baratz said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)