The government is still scrambling to find reputable legal experts to join the team of criminal investigators who will be tasked with looking into the findings regarding the “Mafia State.”

The fact that among the 15 individuals under investigation, who are alleged to have committed offenses, are three prominent legal figures: former President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, former Deputy Attorney General Rikkos Erotokritou, and former President of the Nicosia District Court, Haris Solomonides, adds to the complexity of the case.

“This is precisely what increases the complexity, if we take into account the number of people mentioned and their positions.”
_{^{Konstantinos Letympiotis – Government Spokesperson}}

The government emphasizes that the priority is not the speed of the appointment but the selection of the most suitable candidates, in response to criticism regarding delays.

SEE ALSO: The “no” votes and the objections: The government is preparing a list of candidates for criminal investigators for the “Mafia State” investigation

The number of investigators who will join the team, as well as its final composition, will depend on the responses the President’s Office receives from the legal experts it has approached.

“This list, which has been compiled for evaluation, includes individuals from outside Cyprus, given that the issue of conflicts of interest affects quite a few people in Cyprus.”
_{^{Konstantinos Letympiotis – Government Spokesperson}}

Klerides’ “Bombshell”

“I have never been subject to any interference from anyone.”

This statement by former Attorney General Costas Clerides, made 10 years ago, on the show “Without Beating Around the Bush,” raises questions about what Kostas Clerides ultimately testified to the Anti-Corruption Authority’s investigators.

In the report, in the chapter concerning the Focus case, it is stated that there was testimony regarding alleged intervention by the former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, directed at the then Attorney General regarding the Focus case via telephoneto bring the investigations to a close.

In a conversation between Alpha and Costas Clerides, the former Attorney General did not clarify the situation, noting that whatever he has to say, he will say it before the criminal investigators. “No comment” was the response we received from the head of the Anti-Corruption Authority, Haris Poyatzis, when asked to comment on the criticisms raised by Nikos Anastasiadis, who claimed he had never been questioned about the intervention in question. In the same vein as Costas Clerides, Haris Poyatzis implied that the answers exist and that they will be provided before the criminal investigators.

Watch the report by Christoforos Nestoros: