Former attorney-general Costas Clerides knew of allegations ‘years ago’

Then attorney-general Costas Clerides was informed in 2019 of evidence which later formed the basis of journalist Makarios Drousiotis’ corruption allegations, according to statements made by his brother Nikos Clerides, which were published in Friday’s edition of the Politis newspaper.

Nikos Clerides said that the central witness in the investigation, referred to as ‘Sandy’, first approached him in 2019, providing detailed information about alleged misconduct involving high-ranking political, judicial and business figures.

He then served as her lawyer but said that she had refused to testify over the matter to the police, as she did not wish to be drawn further into the matter. He also said he had had no contact with the woman for years but indicated she “is now in a state of fear and panic”.

Due to the sensitivity of the material, Clerides “shared it only with individuals he trusted,” including Drousiotis, a journalist based abroad, and an international agency which deals with transparency issues.

He did this, he said, following advice he was given by his brother Costas Clerides, who at the time was serving as attorney-general.

Could the attorney-general have given him the advice without being informed about the details of the case? Of course, if he had been informed, why had he not ordered an investigation?

However, during an appearance on Sigma TV on Friday, Nikos Clerides changed his account, suggesting that his brother knew nothing about the case and that he had no “institutional role” at the time, although he remained in post as attorney-general until June 2020.

He claimed he had only spoken to his brother about possible surveillance of his office, but that Costas Clerides never knew about any matter related to ‘Sandy’.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Drousiotis insisted that Nikos Clerides had not informed his brother until after his tenure as attorney-general ended, when he no longer had an institutional role.

Costas Clerides had fallen out with the supreme court and the banking establishment in 2018 after he had ordered investigations into alleged corruption against Nicolas Hadjiyiannis, the chief executive officer of the defunct Cooperative Bank.

The allegations against Hadjiyiannis related to collusion between supreme court judges who were trying criminal cases regarding banking irregularities.

Nikos Clerides stressed that the information divulged by ‘Sandy’ should not be submitted to the police without appropriate safeguards.

“I have absolutely no confidence in the police nor the legal service and I do not believe that they will receive an objective investigation,” Clerides said, arguing that the case would be better examined by Greco, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body.

Clerides added that both he and others who handled the evidence have been on the receiving end of threats over the years.

He described the material as “dynamite which has the potential to blow the whole thing wide open if proven true,” and said this contributed to ‘Sandy’s’ decision to remain publicly silent.

Drousiotis continues to maintain that he possesses substantial evidence supporting his allegations, having published apparent records of electronic communications and financial between Christodoulou and high-profile figures in recent days.

On Friday, shortly before giving testimony, he published photographs he said show a €275,000 transfer linked to ‘Sandy’ and former judge Michalakis Christodoulou, along with cash and handwritten notes sent between the two parties.

Christodoulou, who confirmed he knew Sandy and described himself as supportive of her to the extent that “I acted like a father to her,” strongly rejected claims of raping her, as well as claims that he is the father of her three children.

“My mobile phone and everything is at the police’s disposal,” he said, adding that he would cooperate fully with authorities.

Other figures named by Drousiotis, including former MEP Demetris Papadakis and vice-president of Edek Morfakis Solomonides, both of whom he alleges to have “acted on the behest of Christodoulou as informants and interlocutors”, have denied the allegations.

Papadakis submitted his mobile phone to forensic experts, emphasising that any findings should be handed directly to police chief Themistos Arnaoutis for formal investigation.

He also gave a statement to the police on Friday, accusing Drousiotis of publishing false news and circulating false documents, given that he is one of the names linked to alleged communications with Christodoulou.

Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said the matter must be clarified quickly to prevent unverified claims from circulating.

He confirmed that a dedicated police team has been appointed to investigate once evidence is formally submitted.

 “The probe must be reliable and thorough and concluded as quickly as possible,” he said.

He rejected both Drousiotis’ and Clerides’ calls for foreign investigators, stressing that institutions “must be trusted and not replaced”, though he left open the possibility of technical support if required.

“Those making allegations cannot dictate how investigations are carried out. Conditions cannot be imposed on the process,” he added.

Clerides said he understands ‘Sandy’s’ decision to stay silent and not to speak to the police, emphasising her need to protect herself and her children. He said that Drousiotis acted “against her wishes and without her prior knowledge” in going public with the allegations.

Drousiotis, who spoke to the police on Friday in the presence of his lawyer, insisted all the evidence he has to hand, including financial documents, will be submitted to authorities.

Fitiris said on Friday evening that while Drousiotis had spoken to the police, he had not provided any evidence to them, and instead “limited himself to questions and suggestions about the process”.

The Cyprus Mail attempted to contact both Nikos and Costas Clerides, both of whom were unavailable for comment.