Justice Minister Costas Fytiris was briefed yesterday by the Chief of Police on the progress of the investigative work. All aspects of the case are under examination, with the investigation moving in every direction.
Investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team at Police Headquarters are progressing on all fronts regarding the claims made by Makarios Drousiotis and the 'Sandy' case. The current week is expected to bring developments on several 'fronts'.
First, Justice Minister Costas Fytiris will today inform the Council of Ministers about the progress of the investigation, based on the briefing he received yesterday from Chief of Police Themistos Arnaoutis. At the same time, authorities are awaiting the report from the Europol forensic laboratory regarding the material sent for examination, so that there is a clear assessment of the authenticity of the content found on electronic devices (a USB drive and a mobile phone).
Following the minister’s briefing, the Council of Ministers will decide whether to appoint an independent criminal investigator, or whether the investigation will continue in its current form, carried out exclusively by the Police investigative team. Another possibility under consideration is the appointment of a criminal investigator to supervise the existing investigative team.
However, what has sparked considerable debate is whether appointing an independent criminal investigator is appropriate at this stage, given that since 30 March, when Drousiotis’s claims were first published, statements have already been taken from around 30 individuals and specific investigative actions have been carried out. The significant amount of time that has passed since the publication of the allegations is expected to be taken into account in whatever decision the Council of Ministers ultimately reaches.
Details and the bigger picture
The investigative work by the special team established at Police Headquarters continues in order to examine all aspects of this complex case. The investigation is being conducted in parallel on multiple levels, with authorities attempting to verify the claims put forward by all individuals who have either already given statements or are expected to testify.
Based on the evidence collected so far, and pending the results from Europol, the Police are attempting to complete the puzzle of what is widely considered an unprecedented case. Whether the messages are genuine or fabricated, someone could ultimately face criminal charges.
A key piece of evidence in the case is believed to be the mobile phone used by 'Sandy' during the period in question. The device has not yet been located, and several claims made by her regarding its whereabouts have not been verified.
Evidence obtained so far indicates that several photographs appearing in messages were taken from open sources on the internet and are not related to the allegations made by Drousiotis. Behind the many details linked to individual aspects of the case, however, lies the broader issue: the need for society and the rule of law to determine the real facts of a case that has dominated public discussion for days.
Certiorari
Today a request is expected to be filed with the Supreme Court by lawyer Christos Clerides, who represents his cousin Nicos Clerides (with other lawyers also participating in the legal team), seeking the annulment of the search warrant that was obtained on Easter Saturday.
Police had applied to the court and secured a search order for the home and office of Nicos Clerides, a move that triggered strong reactions, particularly over concerns about a violation of lawyer-client privilege.
Regarding the testimony given to the Police by former Attorney General Costas Clerides, reports indicate that he referred to information that had come to his attention after his retirement from the post of Attorney General. According to sources, Clerides told investigators that the information had been conveyed to him by his brother in relation to 'Sandy' and the other claims that had been raised.