The Prosecutorial Council of the Law Office has forwarded the Anti-Corruption Authority’s report and the Inspectors’ Final Report in the Mafia State investigation directly to the Police and the Council of Ministers, without further evaluation, to allow criminal proceedings to begin as quickly as possible.
The reports, along with all accompanying documents, were delivered to the Law Office on June 22. The Prosecutorial Council said it decided to transmit them immediately and in full, without further assessment by the Law Office, in order to preserve the objectivity of the investigation and enable the broadest possible criminal inquiry into any offences that may have arisen from the findings.
The Council cited four factors in reaching its decision: the recusal of Attorney General Giorgos Savvides and Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides, announced on June 17; the Council of Ministers’ stated intention, also announced on June 17, to appoint independent criminal investigators under Article 4 of the Criminal Procedure Law; the Anti-Corruption Authority’s announcement of June 16 and its covering letter transmitting the report; and the public interest arising from the nature, gravity, and scope of the investigation and the individuals involved.
The Prosecutorial Council also cited the need to ensure the unimpeded functioning of institutions and the administration of justice.
Savvides and Angelides both recused themselves from the matter given that both were appointed to their current posts by former President Nikos Anastasiades, who is among those recommended for criminal scrutiny by the Anti-Corruption Authority’s inspectors.
The Anti-Corruption Authority delivered its report — spanning approximately 3,000 pages — to the Law Office and to the Tax Commissioner on June 22.
The inspectors recommended that 15 individuals and legal entities face scrutiny for offences carrying sentences of up to 14 years. Anastasiades faces seven potential findings, including one felony count of abuse of power.
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