Filenews 29 January 2021 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
Developments have occurred in recent times in connection with the police investigation into whether corruption offences have occurred since the release of the Al Jazeera video. As the investigations progress in depth, so do evidence showing directions on what was going on in relation to applications for exceptional nationality through the investment programme.
Information from the "F" indicates that developments have emerged in recent days on two fronts: Firstly, with regard to the analysis of the documents received by various persons allegedly involved in the case, and secondly, in the taking of testimony.
Specifically, according to our information, the thousands of e-mails examined on the basis of a special program show the exchange of messages between some persons involved in the video. In particular, it appears that some exchanged emails referring to naturalized cases and how they would act. These e-mails were separated from the thousands of others in order to be examined thoroughly and in connection with case documents which may concern the persons concerned.
Also, in another development, in recent days a very important testimony has been received from a person who initially refused to testify and now its contents will be examined thoroughly, so that on the basis of what is mentioned a new examination cycle can be started.
At the same time, investigators will move in another direction over the next few months, i.e. they will go to court and ask for bank account disclosure orders to determine whether there have been transactions related to naturalized citizens which need to be investigated.
As was duly mentioned in "F", the work of the investigative team is enormous, since it has to do with a complex case and a huge volume of documents need to be examined, while evidence will be forensically examined by a competent police department. As Police Chief Stelios Papatheodorou has recently stated, there is the basis for extensive investigations.
Yesterday, moreover, the President of the Cyprus Bar Association Christos Clerides, outgoing from the Committee of Inquiry into Natural Studies and invited to comment on the previous day's publications by the lawyer Andreas Pitatzi concerning the video at issue, made a firm recommendation. "My recommendation to all the lawyers involved is to avoid statements like those I have seen today," he said, noting that the matter might concern the relevant bodies of the Cyprus Bar Association.
Meanwhile, at a very advanced stage is the investigation of the case of naturalization of Iranians with false information investigated with the involvement of a law firm and a company in Larnaca. The investigation into the naturalization of a Chinese family in Paphos as well as the naturalization of Joe Law is also ongoing.
