A new lawsuit has been filed against Odysseas Michaelides for moral damages due to “illegal actions and omissions” by the former auditor-general.

The lawsuit was filed at Limassol district court by Christos Pourgourides’ law firm on behalf of former commissioner for the development of mountainous areas and Kalopanayiotis mayor Yiannis Papadouris and VV Lampadistis Wineries Limited.

The plaintiffs support that Michaelides caused them moral damages and damaged their good reputation and additionally caused tremendous upset and mental anguish to Papadouris and dragged his name through mass and social media.

Papadouris and the wineries are demanding exemplary compensation and an apology from Michaelides.
The plaintiffs are also demanding similar remedies against the Republic of Cyprus through its legal representative, namely the attorney-general.

The lawsuit says that during an examination by the Audit Office in 2021, Michaelides acted with apparent malice and unfairly with the aim of harming the plaintiffs and not protecting the financial interests of the EU or the Republic of Cyprus, because Papadouris had filed a lawsuit against Michaelides at the same court in 2020.

The plaintiffs support that Michaelides acted without authority, negligently and in contravention of his duties and fundamental audit principles and standards.

They specifically say Michaelides publicised a report in April 2021 regarding an audit into EU funding of VV Lampadistis Wineries Limited of Papadouris to construct a winery in Kalopanayiotis, in which the former auditor-general presented findings indicating fraud, which he forwarded to the European anti-fraud office OLAF.

OLAF’s investigations did not produce evidence of any fraud, however the Audit Office did not disclose OLAF’s conclusions, allowing an erroneous impression of the continuation of investigations to linger.
The plaintiffs say Michaelides’ actions contained omissions leading to significant details being withheld and acted outside the law.