Proceedings in the high-profile case concerning thousands of documents removed from the central prisons were adjourned on Friday, with the Nicosia criminal court setting May 5 as the next hearing.

The postponement was granted due to the absence of a representative of the prosecution ‘for personal reasons’.

During the hearing, defence lawyer Christos Triantafyllidis, representing former prisons director Anna Aristotelous, raised concerns over access to evidence, telling the court that inspection of key documents “has not taken place to date” despite prior judicial instructions.

At the earlier session, the court ruled that disputed documents should be submitted for judicial review to determine whether withholding them from the defence is justified.

It also made clear that the burden rests with the prosecution to demonstrate why non-disclosure is necessary, while instructing that defence lawyers be allowed to inspect the material and present their positions.

The defence has maintained that full access to the classified documents is essential to ensure a fair trial, arguing that without reviewing the material in question, the accused cannot adequately respond to the charges.

Defence lawyers have repeatedly stressed that their clients cannot proceed to plead without complete knowledge of the material forming the basis of the prosecution’s case.

Eight defendants are facing trial, including Anna Aristotelous, former deputy director Athena Demetriou, five prison officers and a former employee now serving in the police.

The charges include conspiracy, theft of state property involving 48,432 documents, removal of 370 architectural plans and the alleged unlawful possession of 431 items, including USBs.

Additional allegations relate to abuse of power, specifically concerning the transfer of documents, plans and information outside the prisons, including to a private residence.

Aristotelous faces a further charge alleging that she permitted the leakage of classified material while serving as director.

The case stems from a police investigation in April 2025, when authorities discovered a large cache of documents during a search of a prison warden’s home.

The material is believed to have been removed from the central prisons between November and December 2022.