Authorities are seemingly putting the final touches in a complex investigation of the ‘Sandy’ case, alluding to alleged corruption and conflict of interest by a number of high profile individuals who received preferential treatment, as well as criminal accusations directed at a former judge.
‘Sandy’, 45, testified again yesterday (April 30th) for the fourth time before criminal investigators and according to Philenews sources, she was asked questions on the totality of the case, namely all evidence on the table and every criminal avenue that the case has opened, as well as making clarifications on ‘gaps’ in the report, further detailing the way she conducted herself, upon her own admission.
The same sources say she testified at the offices of a special unit on vulnerable individuals and in the presence of a psychologist, as in the other three cases.
The substance and strength of the case are based on her own testimony so in the month that has transpired since it was made public, investigators have formulated dozens of questions emerging from the evidence presented, which need to be answered in a persuasive manner by ‘Sandy’, the centerfold of events.
‘There needs to be a clear picture here that simply cannot be misconstrued or otherwise misinterpreted’, sources tell Philenews.
The latest ‘Sandy’ testimony is essentially considered a ‘reiterated finality’ on what she has already said, including her admission that she made the whole thing up, consumed by a fictional world in which something real was coated with a false exterior.
Investigators want to know how ‘Sandy’ came up with the names around which text messages were constructed and sent to various individuals.
These messages were initially made public by journalist Makarios Droushiotis with a claim of authenticity as screenshots from the former judges’ mobile phone.
‘Sandy’ later overturned this version of events however, telling investigators that she was creating these messages through an app on her phone.
As she explained, when her former lawyer Nikos Clerides mentioned a name in their attorney-client privilege discussions, she would create messages that included this name in order to feel important as an individual who was acquainted with public figures.
It has yet to be established however how any of these names, well known or not, was indeed connected to any case.
The latest testimony of the 45 year old is believed to be directly linked with the involvement in the case of FBI agents who arrived in Cyprus last week to assist in the investigation and based on the evidence they are presented with, provide an expert opinion on whether ‘Sandy’ has made the whole thing up.
The 45 year old woman’s final answers will formulate next steps and according to Philenews sources largely decide the outcome.
It is quite possible that depending on how the testimony and FBI response goes, preliminary findings might be reached next week and investigators conclusions submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for legal scrutiny.
How the FBI is involved
According to Philenews, the FBI experts are expected to contribute in locating clues or possible inconsistencies in the ‘Sandy’ testimonies as well as evaluating evidence on individuals allegedly involved or referred to as persons of interest in the case in order to establish authenticity.
The American unit will not be taking new testimony or gathering new evidence as they have no investigative jurisdiction and the lead remains with Cyprus authorities.
Their assistance however is considered critical as to the whether the fundamentals of the ‘Sandy’ testimony are real or imagined.
Meanwhile, investigators have called in former director general of Postal Services Andreas Gregoriou for testimony as he was Sandy’s boss when she worked there for a brief period of time in the framework of a state funded Human Resources Development Programme.
Gregoriou will be called upon to respond to the Droushiotis claims that he employed Sandy as a result of a favour which landed him the position of Justice Ministry Director General.
A large number of individuals have testified and content is currently being evaluated, as authorities are also looking for Cypriot journalist Stelios Orphanides, who wrote about the case but has since then informed investigators he does not wish to talk to them.
Meanwhile, commenting on the FBI involvement this morning in a Twitter post, Makarios Droushiotis said it was ‘a sham’, as it has no substantive right or jurisdiction to facilitate the investigation.
‘Our goal is to conclude the investigation the soonest possible’, Justice Minister Costas Fytiris noted yesterday, adding that FBI is assisting investigators in their efforts to submit findings covering the full scope of the charges made.
He offered no timeframe as to the issuing of the findings.