Savvas Angelides

Our View: No state official should stay in their post until retirement

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Our View: No state official should stay in their post until retirement

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.

Tales from the Coffeeshop: Auditor-general far too popular to do anything wrong

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Tales from the Coffeeshop: Auditor-general far too popular to do anything wrong

– 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.

Legal Service questions timing behind anti-corruption spat

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Legal Service questions timing behind anti-corruption spat

The Legal Service questioned the timing of the anti-corruption authority’s announcement regarding former drug squad chief Michalis Katsounotos.

Maybe they like to reinforce distrust

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Maybe they like to reinforce distrust

The clash between the Attorney General’s Office and the Independent Authority Against Corruption has created a sense of cover-up in society. The Anti-Corruption Authority requested the Attorney General’s Office to conduct a criminal inquiry and possible prosecution against a police officer who refused to cooperate in an investigation involving the Deputy Attorney General. The Attorney General’s Office declined to comply, leading to a clash of interpretations of the law and reinforcing the sense of collusion in society. This affects the quality of the rule of law and society as a whole, as citizens expect integrity and probity from those in key public positions. The Anti-Corruption Authority’s efforts may be hindered if witnesses continue to invoke their right to silence.

Auditor-general to object removal bid in court

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Auditor-general to object removal bid in court

Fact: The formal objection filed by the lawyer for Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides consists of 75 pages.

MPs deride Attorney-General over Katsounotos case

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MPs deride Attorney-General over Katsounotos case

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.

Legal Service and Anti-Corruption Authority at odds over Katsounotos

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Legal Service and Anti-Corruption Authority at odds over Katsounotos

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.

Outlining the key players in Auditor General court case

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Outlining the key players in Auditor General court case

Three judges of the Supreme Constitutional Court, including the current president, previously participated in a case involving the dismissal of a state official for inappropriate behavior. Two lawyers of the Auditor General also have experience in a similar case, as they represented the former Attorney General. The current Deputy Attorney General may be a witness in the process, as one of the issues raised concerns a complaint against him. Two large law firms will represent the Attorney General in the legal battle, one of which has ties to a former judge who prepared a report on the state official in the previous case.

Landmark legal battle unfolds in Cyprus

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Landmark legal battle unfolds in Cyprus

The Attorney General of Cyprus has filed a petition to the Supreme Constitutional Court seeking the dismissal of Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides for inappropriate conduct. This legal battle will involve top legal professionals and is based on a regulatory provision from 2021. The case is unique as there is limited case law on requests for dismissal due to inappropriate behavior, with the only previous case involving former Deputy Attorney General Rikkos Erotocritou, who was criminally convicted. The Constitution does not clearly define what constitutes inappropriate behavior for the dismissal of officials at this level of constitutional protection. The Auditor General has 21 days to file an objection to the request for dismissal, and if the case reaches a hearing, old cases handled by the Legal Service will be brought up, with witnesses called to testify.

82-year-old shooter, ’s appeal for freedom rejected

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82-year-old shooter, ’s appeal for freedom rejected

An 82-year-old man who was jailed for shooting a cable thief had his appeal for a suspended sentence rejected. The man’s lawyer is now awaiting the attorney-general’s position on the matter of a presidential pardon. The shooting took place in a Limassol village where the man shouted at the thief before firing a shot that hit him in the back.