The criminal investigation into the Takata airbag scandal has been completed and the case file has been forwarded by the Police Headquarters CID to the Legal Service, which will determine whether criminal offences were committed and, if so, against whom charges should be brought.
According to information cited by Politis, prosecutors may still request additional investigative work before reaching a final decision.
Prosecutors to decide on possible charges
The decision on whether to pursue criminal prosecutions, and what charges may be filed, rests with the Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant Attorney General and Elena Kleopa, head of the Legal Service's Criminal Law Division.
Among the issues under consideration is whether the evidence supports offences such as:
- Manslaughter.
- Causing death through negligence.
- Other criminal offences arising from the handling of vehicle recalls and public-safety obligations.
Two deaths at the centre of the case
The investigation stems from the deaths of two young motorists linked to defective Takata airbags:
- Kyriakos Oxinou, 24, who died in Nicosia on 24 January 2023.
- Styliani Georgalli, 19, who died on the Avgorou-Frenaros road on 21 October 2024.
Their families have been seeking answers and accountability over the circumstances that led to the fatalities.
Former Road Transport Department directors scrutinised
Investigators also examined the role of two former directors of the Road Transport Department (RTD) after a commission of inquiry recommended that their potential criminal liability be investigated.
They are:
- Sotiris Kolettas, RTD director from 2006 to 2019.
- Yiannis Nicolaides, who served as director until June 2023 before becoming a ministry permanent secretary-level official.
The commission recommended that both be investigated over alleged omissions during their lengthy tenure at the department.
During their testimony, both men argued they were not the officials directly responsible for vehicle recalls involving defective Takata airbags and disputed any responsibility for the handling of the matter or its fatal consequences.
Vehicle distributors also under scrutiny
The Legal Service is also expected to assess whether criminal liability could arise for the distributors of the vehicles driven by Oxinou and Georgalli.
The key question is whether evidence shows that distributors had an obligation to act on recall notices and replace dangerous airbags, and whether they failed to do so.
Crucial decision ahead
The case has now entered its most significant legal phase, with prosecutors determining whether the evidence gathered over the course of the investigation justifies criminal proceedings.
Any decision could have major implications for former public officials, vehicle distributors and others connected to the management of the Takata recall process in Cyprus.
