Filenews 18 November 2020 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
Amid uncertainty, police are launching investigations into the Al Jazeera network's revelations about "golden" passports and the involvement of former Members of Parliament. More than a month after the controversial video came to light and investigations have progressed, however, they have not shown any direction with strong evidence.
According to "F" information, the Police have on its list so far, more than five suspects, but it all depends on the following: Whether the two journalists of the network from Qatar will come to Cyprus to testify what was left between them and the former Speaker of the House Dimitris Syllouris, the former ACPL MP Christakis Giovanis, the lawyer Andrea Pittatzis and others. Such an action would give the case another boost and open the door to a new round of interrogations.
According to our same information, the two journalists who acted under cover, although they have responded negatively to the first strikes to come to testify, saying that they have carried out their mission, however contacts with the Katarino channel continue and there is so far no final answer. Because the video posted cannot in itself be a testimony because it was taken in an illegal manner, under the law in force in Cyprus, what is heard must be filed by the parties themselves. Otherwise there can be no testimony, when investigators will turn in other directions.
In the meantime, things are stagnant with regard to the British real estate agent, a former police officer, who also appears in the Al Jazeera video, talking about how he would guarantee Cypriot citizenship to investors. He has handed investigators a written note on advice from his lawyer and although he has had several contacts with investigators, so far he has not given written testimony. That's why he's considered one of the suspects in the case, and it's the authorities' intention if he cooperates to come forward as a prosecution witness.
In the hands of the investigative team are thousands of documents received from various government offices as well as from the premises of five persons. The headache of the authorities is the thousands of e-mails found on the computers of both the British real estate agent and others involved. Because these are tens of thousands, the investigative team will use a special program that is capable of separating case-related e-mails from those that are irrelevant. This will save valuable time and make messages better separated.
