Cyprus' Legal Service has rejected requests by five of the eight defendants in the Central Prison documents case seeking the suspension of criminal proceedings against them.
During Friday's hearing before the Nicosia Assize Court, prosecutor Vasilis Bissas said applications submitted by defendants four to eight had been examined and would not be approved.
He noted, however, that the Attorney General retains the authority to suspend a prosecution at any stage during the proceedings.
Hearings scheduled
Following the decision, the court set hearing dates for:
- 29 October
- 3 November
- 5 November
- 10 November
- 12 November
The hearings will also determine whether any of the defendants intend to raise preliminary objections before the case proceeds.
Charges
The defendants face:
- three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony;
- three counts of theft by public officials;
- three counts of abuse of power.
Defendant number one faces an additional charge relating to alleged non-compliance with legislation governing the handling and security of classified information.
The court had previously been informed on 29 September that five defendants had submitted requests seeking the suspension of the prosecution.
