Anastasiades law firm appeals for full Mafia State case report

Nicosia, Cyprus. The law firm of former president Nicos Anastasiades has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals seeking access to the complete report prepared by anti-corruption authority inspectors in the Mafia State case. The authority confirmed that Nikos Chr Anastasiades and Partners LLC lodged the appeal.

Appeal against anti-corruption authority

The appeal names Transparency Commissioner Haris Pogiadjis and members of the anti-corruption authority as respondents.

The firm is seeking full disclosure of the inspectors’ findings concerning Anastasiades and two of the firm’s partner lawyers.

The dossier comprises about 3,000 pages and was compiled from 200 investigative sessions, testimony from 150 people and 793 submitted pieces of evidence.

Potential implications

The appeal is the first filed against the authority since its establishment. Its outcome will determine whether named individuals in future cases can access the complete evidence and findings gathered against them before criminal investigators complete their work.

Under the authority’s standard procedure, inspectors prepare a report outlining possible criminal responsibilities. Where sufficient grounds are found, the report is sent to the attorney-general for further investigation.

Only a small number of cases have reached that stage, including the Trimiklini case, former Edek president Marinos Sizopoulos, Nicosia sewerage board director Konstantinos Parmaklis, and the 15 individuals and legal entities named in the Mafia State findings.

Findings and response

The authority’s report, issued on June 16, attributes seven possible offences to Anastasiades: three counts of trading in influence, one count of abuse of power classified as a criminal offence, and three counts of attempted commission of a criminal offence classified as misdemeanours.

Former law firm partners Stathis Lemis and Fanos Philippou each face one count of trading in influence and one count of money laundering. The firm faces the same two charges.

Anastasiades has rejected the findings in full, stating that he was not made aware of the complete case against him and reserving his legal rights.