Monday, 30 March, 19:39. A post by Makarios Drousiotis, on his personal website and on his personal social media accounts, shakes Cypriot society to its core. Title: "Paedophilia, asset seizures, surveillance and rigged trials: the dark face of the 'rule of law' in Cyprus."
It was an extensive post that provoked, on one hand, shock over the individuals named and what was alleged against them, and on the other, fierce reaction, denials and legal action from those affected. Across roughly 4,000 words, Drousiotis referred to a case of sexual harassment of a minor by a judge, two suicide cases, a nationwide financial crime gang he called the "Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians," the case of the black surveillance van, bugging devices at the Legal Service, the former President's decision to appoint Yiorgos Savvides and Savvas Angelides to the Legal Service, the Focus case, and even a bribe allegedly paid to buy the silence of someone who knew about it and held evidence.
The central figure in Drousiotis's online piece was Kyriaki Kyriakou, a person he referred to, he said, as "Sandy" in order to protect her identity. This is how the affair came to be known as the "Sandy" case.
Uproar followed, with a wave of reactions and intense debate over whether the content of the messages underpinning Drousiotis's post was authentic or fabricated. At the same time, a veil of mystery hung over the identity of the central figure herself, whether she was even a real person, and under what circumstances the messages had come about. As a result of the furore this caused, but chiefly because of the individuals named, including references touching the country's top institutions, the Council of Ministers decided to bring in Europol and a specialist FBI unit to assist with the investigation.
A police investigation followed, during which statements were taken from all parties involved, including Drousiotis himself and "Sandy," alongside the results of a forensic examination of electronic devices. This past June, police held an emergency press conference, at which force leadership announced that the content of Drousiotis's post was based on fabricated messages, a conclusion drawn from the testimony of the central figure herself, who gave a statement explaining which application she had used to create the messages.
The conclusion of the police investigation, however, was not the end of the criminal inquiry. On the instructions of the Legal Service, police opened a criminal investigation into the possible commission of other offences by the author himself and other individuals.
That criminal inquiry culminated in the preparation of an indictment naming both Makarios Drousiotis and "Sandy." The case against them has been filed with the court, and this coming Wednesday, 16 September, the two accused will appear in court for the first time, as part of proceedings to refer them for trial before the Criminal Court.
Witnesses
Attention will now turn to the court proceedings, chiefly in two directions. First, the defence line "Sandy" chooses to take, that is, whether she will admit to any of the charges she faces, given the statements she gave to police. As for Drousiotis, he is expected not to admit to any of the charges. The second key point is the list of prosecution witnesses to be summoned to testify before the Criminal Court, with reports indicating it will include politicians, judges, and other former, and possibly current, state officials.
All or nothing
Given how developments have unfolded in the "Sandy" case, particularly regarding Drousiotis's defence, all the evidence is now expected to be laid before the court. Intense cross-examination is also expected, especially on points that Drousiotis's camp still considers to hold unresolved questions, such as the central figure's mobile phone, which was never located during the police investigation. A comparison is also expected between the forensic examination Drousiotis had conducted on electronic devices, and the results of the examinations carried out by the police laboratory and Europol.
Timeline
- 30 March 2026: Post published on Makarios Drousiotis's personal website and social media accounts.
- 2 April 2026: The woman referred to as "Sandy" attends Police Headquarters and gives a written statement.
- 3-4 April 2026: [Papadakis] and Michalis Christodoulou file a complaint with police against Makarios Drousiotis, over the publication of false news and the creation and circulation of forged documents.
- 7 April 2026: Makarios Drousiotis submits a 34-page statement to police, supported by 137 pieces of evidence in electronic form, relating to the content of his post.
- 8 April 2026: The Council of Ministers decides to forward the disputed screenshots to Europol to verify their authenticity.
- 11 April 2026: Police search the home and law office of Nikos Klerides. On the same day, Drousiotis produces four audio recordings of conversations with "Sandy," containing her own account.
- 21 April 2026: The Council of Ministers decides to request assistance from a specialist FBI unit.
- 3 June 2026: Police, at a press conference attended by Chief of Police Themistos Arnaoutis, present the findings of their investigation into the "Sandy" case, concluding that the messages underpinning Drousiotis's post were fabricated. At the same time, on the instructions of the Legal Service, a criminal investigation begins against Makarios Drousiotis and other individuals.
- 24 July 2026: Case filed against Makarios Drousiotis and Kyriaki Kyriakou.
- 10 August 2026: Drousiotis launches an online fundraising campaign to cover the costs of the legal proceedings.
- 16 September 2026: Referral proceedings before the Criminal Court.
