Sandy, the woman at the centre of the Makarios Drousiotis allegations, attended a previously undisclosed meeting with police investigators last week and told them the SMS messages at the heart of the case are not real, according to police sources.
Investigators are treating her account with scepticism, amid concern that her position may have been given under pressure following the widespread media coverage of the case.
Sandy is the woman named in connection with allegations of sexual abuse and corruption made public by Volt candidate and investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis in a social media post last week. Former Supreme Court judge Michalakis Christodoulou has publicly acknowledged knowing Sandy and denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Sandy’s lawyer Nikos Clerides previously told Philenews she had been taken abroad for her protection after speaking about allegations involving public figures.
Former Bar Association president Christos Clerides confirmed he received material related to the case in 2018 and urged a police complaint that was never filed. Police have described the case as serious and complex.
During the meeting, Sandy acknowledged knowing the former judge, the sources said. She allegedly described how the messages were prepared and claimed they are not genuine. She also said she does not wish to give an official statement.
Police are treating her initial position with scepticism, concerned that it may reflect the pressure and panic generated by the widespread media coverage rather than a considered account. They intend to call her again, once sufficient grounds exist, to confirm or deny her position, and say they have further questions arising from her account.
Sandy and Nikos Clerides are in contact. Although Sandy objected to the messages being handed over, it was agreed that Clerides will provide them to police — as investigators could in any case obtain them via a court order. Clerides told Philenews he is preparing a USB drive containing the messages to send to investigators or hand over today.
Clerides has not given a further statement beyond the one he gave last Saturday, which lasted approximately seven hours and covered the full history of the case. The messages in his possession number approximately 1,000 and will be filtered to separate those directly relevant to his client from others unrelated to the matters under investigation. The messages were handed to Clerides by Sandy around 2019 and are likely the same messages in Drousiotis’s possession, Philenews reports. Drousiotis has maintained that his messages are authentic.
Police are awaiting delivery of the messages before determining their next steps. Further statements are expected from other named individuals believed to be in possession of the SMS messages.
All information in this piece is sourced from Philenews police sources. Sandy’s account as described here is her reported position as relayed by those sources and has not been independently verified.
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