Cyprus Police will collect evidence from Athens concerning the serious case against MP Nicos Sykas, following a complaint by his partner alleging he assaulted and beat her.
The case file, containing testimony gathered by Limassol CID investigators since Sunday, 2 January, was presented to the Legal Service yesterday for instructions. By law, an MP cannot be questioned, arrested, or presented in court without their parliamentary immunity first being lifted.
According to Phileleftheros sources, the investigators received instructions to gather further testimony to strengthen the woman’s allegations. Given that the alleged attack and subsequent events took place in Athens, it is considered imperative to seek judicial assistance from the Greek authorities.
Testimony from individuals who had direct or indirect involvement is deemed necessary. This includes the doctor the MP’s partner saw after the incident, to whom she reported being hit. The doctor’s testimony is considered directly linked to the episode and supportive of the woman’s claims.
Furthermore, several people who the complainant informed about the incident by phone will also be asked to testify immediately. This evidence is intended to support the Attorney General’s request to the Supreme Court to waive Mr. Sykas’s immunity. Necessary arrangements have already been made to take statements from specific individuals in Athens, and investigators may travel to the Greek capital for coordination if needed.
Waiver considered “one-way street”
The Deputy Attorney General, Savvas Angelides, who studied the file, issued two directives yesterday regarding the complaint against the MP:
- Legal advisors must immediately assess the collected testimonies to submit a request to the Supreme Court for the waiver of the MP’s immunity as soon as possible.
- Further investigation must take place to adequately substantiate the request for the immunity waiver.
The lifting of Mr. Sykas’s immunity is now seen as a “one-way street,” as a Supreme Court decision is required before he can be questioned. Although the MP has expressed his willingness to testify, this is not sufficient, as the law requires his immunity to be waived before he is summoned for interrogation. The same procedure applies if an MP is to be charged in court.
If Mr. Sykas does not object to the request for the waiver of his immunity, the process will be expedited, allowing a quick decision. The request is expected to be filed with the Supreme Court immediately, potentially this week or early next week.
Limassol CID’s Violence Unit is investigating the DISY MP for the offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and psychological violence. Should the case proceed to justice, the offences may be adjusted based on the evidence and findings.
The case came to light after a woman reported to the Limassol Police Directorate on Sunday, 4 January, that the MP had physically assaulted her abroad several days earlier. After returning to Cyprus, the complainant underwent medical examinations and then filed an official complaint. The alleged attack reportedly occurred in Greece. Under Article 5 of the Criminal Code, however, an offence committed by a citizen of the Republic in any foreign country can be prosecuted and tried in Cyprus if the crime is punishable by imprisonment exceeding two years and also constitutes a criminal offence under the law of the country where it was committed.
MP denies allegations
MP Sykas made a public statement two days ago, following intervention by House President Annita Demetriou and DISY, vehemently denying his partner’s allegations. He stated he was shocked by the leak of the case to the media and social networks. He added, however, that he fully respects the investigation and is ready to testify to the “actual facts.”
According to the latest information, after the incident, the two went to a nightclub, followed by other events. This occurred after the partner’s visit to a doctor in Athens, where she reported the alleged attack, before returning to Cyprus to file her complaint.