The Supreme Court will announce its decision on Wednesday morning regarding the preliminary objection of Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides in the case registered by Attorney General George Savvides for his dismissal for inappropriate behavior.
The financial aspect of the scandal surrounding the Osiou Avakoum monastery is the most complex one, according to the attorney-general. Monks under investigation were allegedly found with €800,000 in cash, property in Greece and Limassol, and were caught on CCTV footage having sex with each other.
The permanence of appointments to certain positions such as auditor-general, attorney-general, and deputy attorney-general in Cyprus is being questioned. The idea of permanence was to safeguard independence and objectivity, but it could lead to complacency and lack of motivation. It is suggested that non-renewable contracts with an eight-year term would be more suitable to prevent long-term stays in these positions. The constitution may need to be amended to allow for fixed-term contracts instead of permanent appointments.
The Supreme Constitutional Court is set to announce its decision on June 5 on whether attorney-general George Savvides is constitutionally allowed to initiate dismissal proceedings against auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides.
Fact: The Legal Service has been criticized for its handling of the case of Thanasis Nicolaou, with his family and the judge questioning their actions.
Fact: The first court proceedings between auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides and attorney-general George Savvides began with conflicts of interest and an adjournment.
Cyprus is a robust member of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) with ten active investigations in Cyprus and assistance in 58 cases involving other participating member states.
– The opposition proceedings in the case brought against auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides by attorney-general George Savvides were filed by Odysseas’ team of lawyers.
– The opposition is based on two points: the application of the AG to the constitutional council is groundless and the AG does not have the authority to seek the sacking of an independent state official.
– Odysseas’ camp is applying pressure on the president to publicly side with him.
– The head of the anti-corruption authority demanded criminal charges against the drug squad chief, possibly linked to the Odysseas-Savvides clash.
– Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged Syrians to head for Cyprus and Europe to pressure Brussels to give Lebanon more funds for Syrian refugees.
– Parents were upset over the difficulty of questions in modern Greek exams for secondary school students.
– State hospital nursing unions are threatening industrial action if more nurses are not hired.
– The president announced the decision to appoint two criminal investigators before the cabinet approved it.
Fact: Attorney-general George Savvides decided not to prosecute former police drug squad chief Michalis Katsounotos for refusing to answer questions put to him by the Anti-Corruption Authority.
The Legal Service and the Anti-Corruption Authority were in conflict over the decision not to prosecute former police drug squad chief Michalis Katsounotos. The Anti-Corruption Authority recommended a criminal investigation against Katsounotos for refusing to answer questions during an investigation, but the attorney-general declined the request. The Anti-Corruption Authority believes that allowing witnesses to remain silent during questioning would harm their investigations and effectiveness.