Nicosia, Cyprus. Journalist Makarios Drousiotis and a woman publicly known as “Sandy” are facing 101 counts after the attorney-general filed a criminal case against them, according to ERT News. The case is due to be heard before the Nicosia criminal court, and both have been served with the indictment.
Charges and investigation
The case includes counts relating to the alleged preparation and circulation of forged documents, publication of false news and harassment, ERT News reported.
The prosecution followed a police investigation launched after Drousiotis, then a parliamentary election candidate, published allegations in March concerning a network involving members of the judiciary, politicians and business figures in Cyprus and Greece.
Allegations and material
The published material included allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor, blackmail, corruption and a cover-up, as well as claims of links to the Rosicrucian Brotherhood.
The allegations were based largely on material provided by the woman known as “Sandy”.
Greek dimension
The matter also drew attention in Greece after newspaper Documento published messages allegedly involving Greek Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Giorgos Mylonakis.
Mylonakis described the messages as fabricated, filed a criminal complaint with the Greek Supreme Court prosecutor’s office against those responsible and later announced legal action against Drousiotis.
Police findings
According to police findings announced last month, investigators assisted by Europol and an FBI specialist unit found no witness testimony, forensic evidence or other objective material to substantiate the allegations.
Police said the electronic messages central to the case had been fabricated using a mobile application. Investigators said the woman known as “Sandy” admitted creating the messages and identified the application allegedly used to produce the fake conversations.
