In its initial response to the official decision by the Anti-Corruption Authority regarding Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides, the Audit Service highlights the immediate need for the removal of the unchecked Attorney General.
Specifically, in its statement, the Audit Service states:
“First and foremost, we congratulate the Anti-Corruption Authority (‘the Authority’) for today’s report and the professionalism demonstrated both by the Authority itself and its appointed Inspection Officers.
Regarding the substance of the findings, the existence of a conflict of interest is confirmed, emphasizing the urgent necessity for the removal of the unchecked status of the Attorney General. This case marks the second instance, following the case of the former Attorney General, proving that unchecked authority is incompatible with the practices of a state that claims to be committed to combating corruption.
As confirmed by the Authority, the Deputy Attorney General was recently a personal lawyer for an individual charged with a serious crime. It is particularly noteworthy that the name of this individual is rare and unconventional. The Deputy Attorney General suspended the criminal prosecution of this individual, claiming not to have realized that it was his former client.
The Authority adopts the conclusion of the Inspection Officers that while there was a conflict of interest, there is insufficient evidence of corruption offenses. We have no reason to dispute this conclusion. However, even if one adopts the position that there is not enough evidence to initiate a criminal investigation, this (with all due respect to the presumption of innocence) does not rule out the possibility of an abuse of power that simply could not be substantiated. In any case, the facts reasonably indicate a non-serious and unsupported manner in which decisions to suspend criminal prosecutions are made.”
