Nicosia, Cyprus. Police said on Wednesday that allegations made in the Sandy case were unsubstantiated and that the legal service will assess possible criminal offences related to the creation, publication and public dissemination of the disputed material. Authorities are also examining possible legal action against journalist Makarios Drousiotis.
Police findings
According to sources close to the investigation, police are expected to seek prosecutorial guidance in the coming days, before the Anti-Corruption Authority publishes findings on June 15 into separate allegations made by Drousiotis in his book on former President Nicos Anastasiades, Mafia State.
Police rejected Drousiotis’ allegations involving sexual abuse, corruption, blackmail, surveillance and a cabal operating within state institutions. Investigators concluded that the material examined was unsupported by witness testimony, forensic evidence and official records.
Police chief Themistos Arnaoutis said investigators found no evidence to substantiate the allegations made against public officials and other individuals named in the case.
Legal review
The legal service determined that no offences were established against those accused in the allegations. Police said further examination would now focus on potential offences connected to the creation, publication and public dissemination of the disputed material itself.
Sources familiar with the investigation said police consider the inquiry largely complete and are awaiting prosecutorial directions on the next procedural steps.
Drousiotis response
Drousiotis responded shortly after the police press conference by rejecting the findings and accusing authorities of having predetermined the outcome of the investigation.
In a social media post, he said attention should now turn to the forthcoming findings of the Anti-Corruption Authority’s investigation into Mafia State.
“We’ll see you after the announcements about Mafia State. That’s what’s bothering them,” he wrote.
Drousiotis has also criticised the police investigation and dismissed the conclusions regarding the authenticity of the disputed material.
