The investigation into the so-called Sandy case has entered a key phase, with police focusing on allegations linked to financial flows, corruption claims and the Rosicrucian Brotherhood.
The development comes as President Nikos Christodoulides announced that the FBI will assist in analysing statements and evidence collected in the case, following contact with US authorities. He said the response was immediate and described the investigation as being at a “particularly advanced stage”.
The Sandy case centres on allegations made public by journalist Makarios Drousiotis involving claims of corruption and links between senior political, judicial and financial figures. Those named have denied wrongdoing, while the authenticity of key evidence remains under examination.
Cyprus police continue to lead the investigation, working in parallel with Europol, which is conducting forensic analysis of digital material, including messages submitted as part of the case. Authorities have indicated that some material under review may be disputed, with the examination of evidence forming a central part of the inquiry.
Within this framework, investigators are expected to move deeper into the financial dimension of the case. According to information, court orders may be sought to open bank accounts linked to individuals referenced in messages and reports, including material cited in previous publications.
The financial investigation is expected to examine claims that money may have moved from companies in Cyprus to accounts abroad, either through Sandy or via direct transactions. Police are also expected to seek access to accounts linked to Sandy, individuals alleged to have provided funds, and companies said to have employed her, although such employment claims have been denied.
Investigators consider the outcome of these financial checks, alongside Europol’s forensic analysis of digital material, to be central to assessing the broader allegations.
The FBI team is expected to arrive in Cyprus in the coming days. Its role will be limited to analysing evidence already collected and preparing a report. It will not conduct interrogations or take statements.
The President said the involvement of US experts is aimed at assisting the investigation, adding that specialised forensic checks are being carried out in cooperation with Europol using methods that “cannot be disputed by anyone”.
Separately, lawyer Nicos Clerides has filed an application with the Supreme Court seeking permission to challenge the search warrant executed at his home and office in connection with the case.
The application was submitted through the i-justice system and is scheduled to be examined on Thursday. Clerides said errors had been identified in the original court ruling and argued that the focus should be on examining “the content of the messages”.
His lawyer, Christos Clerides, said the search was unnecessary, as his client is a witness and had already provided material to police.
Drousiotis, meanwhile, criticised the decision to involve the FBI, arguing that the state should rely on individuals with knowledge of local conditions.
The investigation remains ongoing, with multiple authorities involved and all aspects of the case under examination.
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