Cyprus Mail
CyprusFeatured

Anti-corruption authority to get in gear with experts from abroad

Deputy Attorney-General Savvas Angelides

The first real test for the recently established anti-corruption authority is set to begin with the arrival of experts from abroad – starting with the ‘golden passports’ case.

But of the 80 complaints it has currently received, the apparently widest in scope, potentially most explosive and those to be reviewed first also include allegations made by Makarios Droushiotis in his book Mafia State along with complaints made against deputy attorney general Savvas Angelides.

Daily Politis reported that next month two British experts are to arrive to assist the team in their investigations into the ‘golden passports’ case, along with the allegations made against Angelides – as raised by the auditor general.

It is understood, however, that the authority will have to request a supplementary budget estimated at hundreds of thousands of euros to hire the services of the experts from abroad, along with others who will advise the team.

It has further been reported that experts from abroad are preferred in cases involving current or former state officials and civil servants, with Politis adding that a Greek expert may be requested to assist with investigating Drousiotis’ claims – which mainly point the finger at former president Nicos Anastasiades.

Both Anastasiades and Angelides deny the claims made against them in the two separate cases.

The authority will investigate allegations of corruption and when it deems that offences have been committed it will refer its findings to the auditor general. But when the auditor general is implicated then the matter will be handed to the president instead.

It was also reported that the authority has been accepting applications for about a month now from those interested in becoming investigating officers. The authority requires experts from a wide range of fields including architects, lawyers, accountants, engineers – but even former judges have applied.

Cyprus recently launched the new authority – whose members were appointed by the former president – but it has yet to prove itself.

Anastasiades selected the five from a list of 15 drawn up by an advisory council and they will serve a six-year stint.

Harris Poyiadjis, a former judge, chairs the authority, and also holds the title of transparency commissioner.

Many are hoping that its work will help Cyprus turn the page, while others appear downbeat on its prospects of success.

Follow the Cyprus Mail on Google News

Related Posts

Festival explores experimental music scene

Eleni Philippou

Mixed-marriage Turkish Cypriot loses appeal for citizenship

Tom Cleaver

Two years in jail for killer driver

Jonathan Shkurko

‘Feverish pace’ over monk scandal investigations

Andria Kades

Man threatens to incinerate own mother

Tom Cleaver

Fallout from CyBC delayed budget submission

Rony J. El Daccache