The Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) on Tuesday issued a detailed announcement of its findings into the investigation of the allegations in the book ‘Mafia State’, in which it says that former President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and other officials, individuals and legal entities, may be potentially criminally liable of corruption.
The probe of the IAAC is based on the book “Mafia State” written by journalist Makarios Droushiotis, who in the past worked as advisor to former President Nicos Anastasiades.
The IAAC, that stresses the principle of the presumption of innocence, lists the names of individuals for “possible criminal offences of corruption”.
Former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, is found in seven cases to have possibly committed offences in trading in influence, abuse of power (crime), abuse of power (misdemeanor), or attempt to commit a criminal offence.
Other individuals included in the probe, that may have committed offences of corruption, are former Minister of Agriculture Nikos Kouyalis (abuse of power, misdemeanor), former Deputy Attorney General Rikkos Erotokritou (abuse of power, misdemeanor), Eva Rossidou Papakyriakou, former Head of Unit for Combating Money Laundering, MOKAS (abuse of power- misdemeanor, attempt to commit a criminal offence, neglect of official duty), George Varnava, former MP (abuse of power- misdemeanor or attempt to commit a criminal offence), Haris Solomonides, Former President of the District Court (indictment of a public official), Efthymios Bouloutas, CEO of Laiki Bank (trading in influence, money laundering), Ioannis Soteriadis, Senior Police Officer (abuse of authority-misdemeanor), Dmitry Rybolovlev (trading in influence), Andreas Hadjikyriakos (trading in influence).
Other individuals or legal entities are Stathis Lemis, Partner at Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners Law Firm (trading in influence, money laundering), Fanos Philippou Partner at Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners Law Firm (trading in influence, money laundering), the Law Firm Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners (trading in influence, money laundering), A. Neocleous and Co. LLC (bribery of a public official, active bribery of public officials and corporate liability of a Legal Person) and Panayiotis Neocleous, Attorney (conspiracy to pervert the course of justice).
The Report and the evidence collected will be forwarded to the Attorney General and to the Tax Commissioner.
During the investigation, a total of 214 sessions/hearings were held for the purpose of taking testimony or evidence, 150 individuals testified as witnesses, evidence was submitted by 41 legal entities and government departments. The total number of documents submitted reached 793. The Report consists of approximately 3000 pages.