Cyprus Cabinet Appoints Five-Member Team of Criminal Investigators for ‘Mafia State’ Case - EUROPE SAYS
NICOSIA – On July 2 the Cabinet decided to appoint a five-member team of independent criminal investigators to examine the findings of the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority concerning the allegations made. . .
NICOSIA – On July 2 the Cabinet decided to appoint a five-member team of independent criminal investigators to examine the findings of the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority concerning the allegations made in the book ‘Mafia State’. The team consists of:Vassilios Skouris, Emeritus Professor of Public Law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and former President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, who will serve as head of the team;Christos Mylonopoulos, Emeritus Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Athens;Sotiris Liasidis, former judge;Nikolas Koursaris, attorney specializing in criminal proceedings and Vice President of a committee of the Nicosia Bar Association;Dimitris Tsolakidis, criminal defense attorney and member of both the Criminal Justice Committee and the Criminal Law Subcommittee of the Cyprus Bar Association. Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Nikos Christodoulides, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the appointments were made in full respect of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the authority of independent institutions, with the aim of ensuring a complete, objective, and impartial investigation into the matters outlined in the Anti-Corruption Authority’s report. The investigators’ mandate will last six months, with the possibility of an extension if they submit a written, justified request to the Cabinet. The Cabinet also decided to provide the team with the necessary administrative staff, appropriately equipped office space, and all required equipment to enable the investigators to carry out their work without interference. Letymbiotis said the decision reflects the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and strengthening public trust in state institutions, while emphasizing respect for the independence of the judiciary, due legal process, and the presumption of innocence. Potential Penalties: Up to 14 Years in Prison and €500,000 in FinesIt is recalled that the report – produced after an investigation lasting more than two years into the allegations contained in the book – attributes possible criminal liability to 15 individuals, including former government officials and private citizens. Among them is former President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiades, who faces potential criminal liability for decisions made while serving as Cyprus’s head of the executive branch. The report also identifies possible criminal responsibility on the part of several of the former president’s associates and other officials, including:Haris Solomonides, former President of a District CourtRikkos Erotokritou, former Assistant Attorney GeneralNikos Kouyialis, former Minister of AgricultureEva Rossidou Papakyriakou, former head of the Unit for Combating Money Laundering Offenses;George Varnavas, former member of ParliamentIoannis Sotiriadis, a senior police officer. More broadly, the alleged felonies identified by the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority carry, upon conviction, prison sentences ranging from seven to fourteen years, as well as fines of up to €500,000. Even the alleged misdemeanors cited in the report carry penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment.