The probe involving allegations of corruption against ex-president Nicos Anastasiades will be completed by the end of May, the head of the anti-corruption authority said on Thursday.
Harris Poyiatzis was speaking to journalists coming out of the presidential palace where he delivered to President Nikos Christodoulides the authority’s annual report for 2023.
He said the authority launched the probe in question back in April, and that so far it has interviewed more than 100 witnesses.
“A few remaining witnesses remain, and I imagine Mr Anastasiades will be among these last ones,” Poyiatzis said.
The investigation revolves around allegations made about Anastasiades in a book titled ‘Mafia State’. The author alleges that Anastasiades and his entourage engaged in graft and corrupt practices.
The anti-corruption authority does not have criminal investigatory powers. It may summon witnesses, but their testimony may not be used as evidence in a court of law. The findings are forwarded to the attorney-general’s office which then decides whether to instruct police to carry out a criminal probe.
In delivering the authority’s report to the president, Poyiatzis said that to date they have received 340 complaints, of which 110 were reviewed.
Of these 110, only 12 have evolved into an investigation – the remainder since discarded.
And of the 12 active investigations, seven to eight are ongoing – with results expected over the coming months.
“We’ll soon have results, which we’ll be announcing, sometimes with reference to names, sometimes not,” said Poyiatzis.
Asked next whether the authority has identified any violations of the lobbying law, Poyiatzis said none so far.
The relevant law mandating lobbyists to register and to report any meetings with public functionaries, came into force on March 1 last year.
Lobbyists must report any meeting with a public functionary where that meeting involved “a public decision-making process”.
So far 140 special interest groups – lobbyists – have registered. The relevant register is kept by the anti-corruption authority and can be found on its website.
In other remarks, Poyiatzis asserted that “there is absolutely no interference [with the authority’s work] from anyone…and we can state this categorically and with satisfaction.”
The members of the anti-corruption authority are appointed by the president. The body was established in 2022 under the presidency of Nicos Anastasiades.
For his part, during the earlier meeting Christodoulides thanked Poyiatzis for the authority’s work.
He said his government views the authority as a partner and was ready to support the body in any way needed.
Speaking of “zero tolerance” toward corruption, the president stressed that the goal is to defend the country’s reputation, both at home and abroad.
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