Legal expert Simos Angelides has outlined potential criminal offences that warrant investigation based on statements attributed to the former director of the President’s Office in a video alleging that the presidency was accepting corporate “pay-for-play” schemes.
The footage suggested that businesses were making donations to the fund in exchange for political favours and direct access to the Presidential Palace.
Speaking on state television CyBC, Angelides clarified that potential offences arise only from what Charalambos Charalambous allegedly says in the video, not from statements attributed to Giorgos Lakkotrypis and Giorgos Chrysochos, who are private individuals and can say whatever they want to persuade a client.
“This alone is not criminally punishable,” Angelides explained.
The main issue, according to Angelides, emerges if the video suggests someone must first make donations to specific projects known to the President or First Lady before getting through bureaucracy or meeting the President, in hopes their investment can proceed at a faster pace.
Based on Charalampous’s alleged statements, Angelides said reasonable suspicion arises for the following potential offences requiring investigation by competent state authorities:
Potential bribery of a public official; potential influencing of a competent authority; potential acceptance of bribes; potential abuse of power; potential money laundering from illegal activities; possible violation of the corruption prevention law; possible violation of electoral law; possible violation of the law on strategic developments, the business facilitation centre and control of foreign direct investment; and possible violation of the lobbying law.
Angelides stressed these potential offences arise only if the video was not edited or stitched together in a way that means what was seen and heard does not correspond to reality at all.
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