MVP

Tag: prosecution

  • Giovani Lawyer Critiques Prosecution in Golden Passports Trial

    Giovani Lawyer Critiques Prosecution in Golden Passports Trial

    The golden passports trial is drawing significant scrutiny as George Papaioannou, the defence lawyer representing former MP Christakis Giovanis, delivered his final address in the Nicosia Criminal Court. He accused the prosecution of engaging in “manifest deception” against the defence.

    • “This was decided along the way, without amending the indictment and with manifest deception of the defence,” Papaioannou argued, highlighting the discrepancies that had arisen.
    • In light of these arguments, he requested the court to acquit Giovanis on all charges.

    This case, linked to the infamous golden passports scandal, emerged following a 2020 Al Jazeera undercover investigation that prompted the resignations of Giovanis and former Speaker of the House, Demetris Syllouris.

    Golden passports: Prosecution’s Focus Shift

    Papaioannou asserted that the prosecution had strayed from the original charges, which were centred on residency permit criteria. He claimed that the courtroom evidence was concentrated on financial issues that had not been investigated by the police, thereby compromising the accused’s right to a fair trial.

    During interrogations, he noted that Giovanis, Syllouris, and lawyer Andreas Pittadjis were questioned solely about residency permits, which formed the basis of charges two and three. However, he pointed out that none of the police inquiries addressed the financial aspects that the prosecution later relied upon in court.

    “This was decided along the way, without amending the indictment and with manifest deception of the defence,” Papaioannou argued, highlighting the discrepancies that had arisen.

    Concerns Over Missing Testimonies

    Another pivotal aspect of Papaioannou’s address was the absence of two crucial figures from the trial, which he claimed resulted in significant gaps in testimony and distorted the facts presented in court. He specifically mentioned the missing service provider, Andreas Pittadjis, who had played a central role in the case as both Gornovski’s lawyer and Giovanis’s legal advisor.

    Pittadjis was initially co-defendant in the first three indictments but was removed from the fourth indictment without explanation, raising concerns about the integrity of the prosecution’s case. Papaioannou contended that the evidence suggested Pittadjis had a far more active role than Giovanis, whose involvement was limited to signing the Reservation Agreement under Pittadjis’s guidance.

    He also noted that Nikolai Gornovski, the naturalised investor, was absent from the indictment and had not been questioned as a suspect. “The absence of both the service provider and the investor creates a one-sided and distorted picture of the case,” he emphasised.

    Call for Acquittal Amidst Legal Flaws

    Papaioannou concluded his address by highlighting the overarching flaws in the legal process, asserting that the defence was presented with charges that diverged significantly from those initially investigated. He introduced the notion of “lurking doubt,” suggesting that the case was fraught with insurmountable issues that would render any conviction “extremely erroneous” and “insecure.”

    In light of these arguments, he requested the court to acquit Giovanis on all charges.

    Prosecution’s Next Steps

    In response to the defence’s claims, prosecution representative Charis Karaolidou sought additional time from the court to formulate a counter to the assertions regarding fair trial violations. The court has scheduled a new hearing for tomorrow at 09:30 to address the prosecution’s response and will announce the date for its decision afterward.

  • Ex-police Officer Seeks to Halt Prosecution in Thanasis Nicolaou Case

    Ex-police Officer Seeks to Halt Prosecution in Thanasis Nicolaou Case

    A former police officer has invoked an Assistant Attorney-General’s letter in his attempt to suspend the prosecution linked to the 2005 death of National Guard soldier Thanasis Nicolaou.

    • A former police officer has invoked an Assistant Attorney-General's letter in his attempt to suspend the prosecution linked to the 2005 death of National Guard soldier Thanasis Nicolaou.

    This request comes two decades after the tragic discovery of the 26-year-old soldier’s body beneath the Alassa bridge, an incident shrouded in controversy, with Nicolaou’s family long contending that the initial ruling of suicide was a facade for murder.

    The defendant, Christakis Kapiliotis, was the head of Lania Police Station at the time of Nicolaou’s death in September 2005. Through his lawyer, Andriana Klaedes, he has argued to the Attorney-General (AG) that the duration since the incident is excessively long for private criminal prosecutions to be initiated.

    In his correspondence to the AG, Kapiliotis pointed to the AG’s Law Office’s prior assessment of the evidence. He attached a letter from Assistant AG Savvas Angelides, dated 11 June 2025, which had previously dismissed a request from the Nicolaou family’s lawyer, Nikos Clerides, to pursue state prosecutions based on the Pappas-Athanasiou report. Angelides indicated that there was not enough evidence to support a charge of deliberate neglect of duty.

    Furthermore, the letter addressed medical examiner Panikos Stavrianos, who is also a defendant in the private case. Angelides clarified that there was no proof that Stavrianos had any knowledge of a murder or intent to conceal the identity of potential perpetrators.

    It is anticipated that the other defendants, including Stavrianos, former Limassol Police Director Andreas Iatropoulos, former Limassol CID head Nicos Sophocleous, and former Rural Police head Christakis Nathanael, will submit similar letters to the AG.

    In response to Kapiliotis’s request, the AG has sought the position of the Nicolaou family lawyers, who are expected to oppose the suspension and advocate for the continuation of the prosecution towards a conclusive court ruling. This follows the AG’s earlier announcement that he would not halt private prosecutions if the family chose to move forward, especially after the release of the Matsas-Alexopoulos report.

    All five defendants made their initial court appearance on 9 December, during which a preliminary objection regarding a conflict of interest was raised. The court has scheduled the next hearing for 22 January 2026.

  • Court Reveals Alleged Killer of Demosthenous Wore Zorro Hat During Murder

    Court Reveals Alleged Killer of Demosthenous Wore Zorro Hat During Murder

    zorro hat — The focus keyword, Zorro hat, emerges in a chilling context as the prosecution outlines the alleged roles of four defendants in the murder of 53-year-old Stavros Demosthenous. The businessman was shot outside his Limassol home on 8 October 2025, and details surrounding the case were revealed during a pre-trial detention hearing at the Limassol District Court.

    As the case progresses, it has officially moved to the Criminal Court, with hearings set to commence on 29 January 2026. Investigators from the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are keen to secure the detention of the four existing defendants while also anticipating the arrival of two Georgian nationals, both 28 years old, whose extradition is pending. Their addition to the charge sheet is expected once they reach Cyprus.

    While law enforcement has yet to confirm a motive, early indications suggest that financial or business disputes may be at the heart of this tragic incident. The prosecution has gathered a staggering 104 witnesses to support their case against the defendants.

    Prosecutor Yiannos Argyrou argued for pre-trial detention based on the significant risks posed by the defendants, including the likelihood of flight, the potential for committing further offences, and the danger of influencing witnesses. He expressed concern regarding two defendants, aged 51 and 31, who reportedly lack “strong ties to the Republic of Cyprus,” thereby increasing their flight risk.

    Argyrou emphasised that the defendants face serious charges under the Penal Code, citing court precedents to bolster his argument that the evidence presented creates a high probability of conviction. The defence, represented by lawyer Alexandros Alexandrou for the 51-year-old defendant, promptly objected to the detention request, while other legal teams indicated they would address the issue of detention at a later stage.

    As the prosecution continued, they presented critical evidence linking the suspects to the crime scene. Testimony from Demosthenous’ son described the motorcycle driver as wearing a round hat and black glasses. Notably, the prosecutor confirmed that genetic material found on a hat recovered from the scene matched that of the fourth defendant, the 31-year-old.

    Further analysis from the State Laboratory supported the prosecution’s claims, as particles found on the hat were consistent with the discharge of a weapon or being in close proximity to one. Witness accounts added depth to the evidence; one individual observed the motorcycle fleeing the scene and described the driver as wearing a carnival mask representing an elderly man.

    Another witness provided insight into the events following the shooting. This person testified to seeing a male exit a burning white van, run towards the motorcycle, and hop onto the driver’s seat. This witness detailed that the second rider on the motorcycle was adorned with a “Zorro-style” hat and glasses, further corroborating the prosecution’s narrative.

    The evidence file prepared for the defence includes a considerable number of witness statements collected throughout the investigation, ensuring that the defence teams will have ample material to work with as they prepare for the upcoming trial.