Of the nine complaints filed against Assistant Attorney-General Savvas Angelides, only one remains pending before the Anti-Corruption Authority, according to a review by Politis.
The outstanding complaint concerns allegations linked to the now-defunct Citizenship by Investment Programme, commonly known as the "golden passports" scheme. Six other complaints were rejected following examination, while two were closed without a formal investigation.
Two complaints closed without investigation
The latest case to be closed without investigation involved allegations relating to the surveillance van case, commonly known as the "black spy van" affair.
According to Politis, another complaint met a similar fate. Submitted to the Anti-Corruption Authority in June 2025, it alleged that Angelides had made false declarations in his asset disclosure statements while serving as a government minister.
The complaint was accompanied by supporting documentation and claimed that a company acquisition and debt transfer had not been disclosed.
The Anti-Corruption Authority declared itself not competent to investigate the matter and referred it to the House committee responsible for asset declarations. Parliament subsequently stated that it lacked the necessary mechanisms to conduct such an investigation.
Other complaints rejected
Several other complaints involving Angelides were examined by the Anti-Corruption Authority and ultimately dismissed.
These included allegations concerning:
- Military retirement decisions and alleged forgery during his tenure as defence minister.
- The handling of a tax matter involving a company linked to politically exposed persons.
- The suspension of criminal prosecutions relating to a public contract case.
- Three separate complaints concerning decisions to suspend criminal prosecutions.
In one of the suspension-of-prosecution cases, investigators confirmed that Angelides had approved the suspension of proceedings involving an individual whom he had previously represented as a lawyer. However, investigators concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish corruption, while expressing concern over the absence of a formal mechanism to identify potential conflicts of interest.
Asset declaration complaint
The complaint relating to Angelides' asset declarations alleged that he failed to disclose certain corporate transactions while serving in the government of former president Nicos Anastasiades.
Although the complaint included names, addresses and supporting evidence, the Anti-Corruption Authority did not investigate it directly. Instead, it referred the matter to the relevant parliamentary committee.
According to Politis, no substantive investigation followed after Parliament indicated it lacked the necessary enforcement mechanisms.
Golden passports case still pending
The only significant complaint still under consideration concerns the golden passports programme.
Documents relating to the case were submitted to the Anti-Corruption Authority as early as 2022 by former auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides and AKEL MP Christos Christofides.
The complaint centres on allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest involving former government officials and associates linked to the citizenship scheme.
In Angelides' case, it is alleged that while serving as a minister he did not disclose his relationship with a large Nicosia law firm that was submitting citizenship applications under the programme. The complaint notes that he participated in cabinet meetings that approved applications submitted by the same firm, where he had previously been a partner and where his wife worked.
Nearly four years after the complaint was lodged, the matter remains unresolved.
