A massive scandal involving multi-million euro state contracts for firefighting aircraft is moving closer to the courtroom following a significant Supreme Court ruling.
The court rejected an application by a Forestry Department official to block a warrant allowing police to access private communications on his mobile phone. The official, identified as the primary suspect, is accused of steering government tenders worth tens of millions of euros toward companies with which he has indirect links.
The suspect’s legal team had attempted to quash a March 2025 warrant, arguing that police had used screenshots from another suspect’s device to obtain it. However, Supreme Court Judge Giasemis N. Giasemis ruled the official had no legal standing to claim a breach of privacy over a third party’s communications. The court also ordered the official to pay €3,000 in legal costs to the state.
The ruling removes the final obstacle for investigators from the Police Headquarters CID, who are now expected to file the case for prosecution.
Investigations have revealed that the official sat on the Forestry Department committee responsible for evaluating and recommending tenders for aircraft rentals and pilot services. Police found that several lucrative contracts consistently ended up with the same companies.
In two specific instances, the official was linked to the winning entities through his mother. Evidence suggests she held a position in a company that collaborated with the firm awarded three separate multi-million euro tenders. The suspect’s mother has already been questioned by police.
The investigation, which covers more than 30 public tenders issued between 2017 and 2024, began following a formal complaint by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou. A total of eight suspects—four individuals and four legal entities—are being investigated in connection with the scandal.