Savvides challenges anti-corruption authority over spy van inquiry

Nicosia, Cyprus. Attorney-General George Savvides on Tuesday challenged the anti-corruption authority to publish in full a letter concerning the scope of its spy van investigation. He disputed the authority’s assertion that Deputy Attorney-General Savvas Angelides had always been included in the inquiry.

Dispute over July meeting

The disagreement concerns a meeting held at the legal services on July 29. The anti-corruption authority said its self-initiated inquiry would cover “all aspects” of the case, including any possible conflict of interest involving Angelides.

According to the authority, Angelides left the meeting when it became clear that the investigation would also concern him personally. It said that, from that point, “if not earlier”, the legal service was aware that it intended to examine Angelides’ role.

Authority rejects Savvides’ account

The authority said Savvides wrote on July 30 that all matters it wished to investigate had already been examined. It said this “reasonably created the impression” that the issue concerning Angelides was included in that assurance.

Its statement disputed an earlier account by Savvides, who had suggested that the authority had not specifically raised the legal service’s handling of the case or Angelides’ possible conflict of interest.

The authority referred to a July 16 letter which, it said, set out in general terms its intention to expand the inquiry.

Call to release letter

Savvides said the July 16 letter did not describe the authority’s intentions “in a general manner”, as stated in its announcement. He said it set out “the exact, detailed and precise terms of reference” for investigators who began work on August 3.

He said the letter made no reference to the legal service’s handling of the case and called on the authority to declassify and publish it in full to support its position.