The well-known criminologist will be asked to document allegations of corruption in the Legal Service
The well-known criminologist Efstathios Efstathiou will be referred to the Disciplinary Council of the Pancypriot Bar Association following a complaint by the Attorney General of the Republic, Giorgos Savvidis. Mr. Efstathiou will be called to account for his corruption complaints to the Legal Service.
According to information from "P", the Council of the Pancypriot Bar Association is expected to meet next Monday and refer the general prosecutor's complaint to the Disciplinary Council. During the procedure, the Disciplinary Council will examine the complaint and, before coming to a conclusion as to whether the prosecution of Mr. Efstathiou is justified, will invite him to a hearing. Mr. Efstathiou will be asked to prove what he attributes to the heads of the Legal Service and to a public prosecutor in relation to the handling of the case of the alleged €133 million real estate fraud in Moscow through Cypriot companies, with his client as the victim.
In the event that the Disciplinary Council decides to prosecute Mr. Efstathiou, then an indictment will be drawn up and the trial of the case will follow. Faced with such a possibility, we were told by Mr. Efstathiou's environment that he himself will request that the trial be held in the presence of journalists. The Attorney General also participates in the Disciplinary Council, who will be excluded from the process.
Mr. Efstathiou believes that the non-promotion of the criminal case by the Legal Service and, subsequently, the intervention of the attorney general to prevent the private criminal case he registered on behalf of his client in the District Court of Nicosia against a Russian billionaire who considers as the mastermind of the fraud is a result of corruption. These are allegations by Mr. Efstathiou that were examined by the Anti-Corruption Authority and rejected.
MICHALIS HATZISTYLIANOU