Nicosia, Cyprus. Police have filed a criminal case against journalist Makarios Drousiotis and a woman publicly known as ‘Sandy’, who face a total of 101 charges following an investigation into allegedly fabricated messages and false claims against public figures.
The case was filed before the court on Friday following directions from the legal service and is due to be heard by the Nicosia criminal court.
Charges and court proceedings
Both Drousiotis and ‘Sandy’ have been served with indictments, according to local media.
The charges reportedly include the alleged preparation and circulation of forged documents, publication of false news and harassment.
Police investigation
The case follows an investigation launched after Drousiotis published a social media post naming individuals and making allegations relating to corruption, rape and other serious offences.
Police findings announced last month concluded that the allegations and SMS messages used in the case had been fabricated through a mobile application.
Police said the disputed material had been provided to Drousiotis by Sandy, who investigators said admitted during questioning that she had created it.
Findings on original allegations
The police investigation found no evidence substantiating the allegations against the public officials and private individuals named in the material.
Police chief Themistos Arnaoutis previously said the claims were not supported by witness testimony, forensic evidence or official records.
The legal service concluded that no offences had been committed by those accused in the original allegations. Police said the investigation then shifted to possible offences linked to the creation, publication and public dissemination of the disputed material.
