The trial of three people linked to the issuing of illegal naturalisations in an Al Jazeera report was postponed on Monday until Friday.

The delay was to give time for a process to be set up so that witness testimony can continue via videoconference.

However, an unexpected issue involving the president of the court led to a forced delay.

As a result, the hearing has been rescheduled for February 14, maintaining the same agenda.

Former House president Demetris Syllouris, former Akel MP Christakis Giovanis, and senior lawyer for the Giovanis Group Antonis Antoniou are facing charges, including conspiracy to subvert the Republic and influencing a public official in violation of the laws criminalising corruption.

Al Jazeera aired an almost hour-long expose of the scandal in October 2020, prompting Syllouris and Giovanis to both resign.

In the documentary, undercover reporters played the role of agents acting on behalf of a fictional Chinese businessman with a criminal record, aiming to secure him Cypriot citizenship.

Syllouris, Giovanis and others were shown offering to help the man in his quest for citizenship despite his criminal record.

The government of the day then scrapped Cyprus’ citizenship by investment scheme, with the European Union having launched legal proceedings over claims the scheme had been used to sell what have been termed as golden passports to dubious individuals.