Political circles trying to impede probe into economic collapse, AG says (Updated)

By Angelos Anastasiou

While investigations into the economic collapse of 2013 may take years, public criticism over alleged delays, comes from political circles trying to push for his removal, Attorney-general Costas Clerides has said.

Speaking on a news show on private television Antenna on Thursday night, Clerides said he had evidence to back his claims, but declined to elaborate.

“There have been incidents where obvious attempts to impede our efforts aimed at eroding the credibility of the legal service, or the attorney-general personally,” he said.

“I think it’s time certain things were said, but let’s leave it at that. I only mention this to demonstrate one thing: that I am fully aware of what is happening, and as a warning that such attempts are futile.”

Pressed for explanations, he spoke of “expediencies”, masked by criticism for delays in investigating cases connected with the economic collapse, in a bid to strike a blow to the AG’s office.

“It was obvious that an undermining attempt had been underway for various reasons,” he said.

“It has subsided, for the time being, but I have no doubt that it will flare up again, given that the underlying expediencies continue to exist.”

Unfair blows to institutions do the country a disservice, he added.

Meanwhile, the AG revealed that prosecutions regarding the economic collapse are due to be filed in court “soon”.

“But I am not among those who like to announce cases due for court in advance,” he said.

“Not only for the obvious reasons, but also for the sake of the people involved, who could be identified in the process.”

The conclusion of all cases relating to the economic collapse will take years, he added.

Critics most often cite the lack of action against Greek financier Andreas Vgenopoulos – formerly the boss of now-defunct Laiki Bank – who is due to answer investigators’ questions on Monday in Athens. While publicly named by local politicians as the culprit of Laiki’s demise, at this stage Vgenopoulos will only be questioned on alleged share manipulation, for which he was fined an unprecedented €700,000 by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2014. Five Bank of Cyprus former top officials – including two CEOs – are already on trial on similar charges.

With regard to his relationship with President Nicos Anastasiades, which seemed to teeter on the brink of collapse last April, after Clerides deemed Anastasiades’ attempt to equate a damning criminal investigation report against the deputy AG with unsubstantiated allegations against the AG “shameful”, he claimed there never was a problem in their professional cooperation, but conceded that it took a long talk to get there.

“We had the opportunity to meet and each of us share his version,” he said.

“We talked for a long time and agreed that there is no reason to maintain a confrontational stance.”

Clerides also admitted that his feud with his deputy, Rikkos Erotokritou – who is facing dismissal and criminal charges – is causing operational disruptions, and said that developments will soon unfold in the case of Central Bank Governor Chrystalla Georghadji.

The AG has been tasked by Anastasiades to look into the legal options for dismissing Georghadji, following a months-long debate concerning altered clauses in her contract and possible conflict of interest.

Clerides’ remarks sparked reactions from the political world, which unanimously urged him to name names.

AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou posted a note on Facebook, in which she claimed that Clerides’ decision to fall short of disclosing who tried to undermine him constituted an attempt at obfuscation.

“He has the obligation of naming who, and how, he is being undermined – otherwise the way he has chosen to raise the issue prompts important questions,” she wrote.

“Is this a bid to shift responsibility? Is it an attempt by the Legal Service at finding scapegoats? We have had enough of conspiracy theories!”

DIKO’s deputy spokesman Athos Antoniades urged the AG to “speak clearly”, arguing that his remarks vindicated the party’s charges for delays in pressing ahead with prosecutions on the economic collapse.

“We call on the attorney-general to tell the Cypriot people directly who the ‘political circles’ that undermine his work are,” he said.

“Is it the President, who has already attempted to intervene in the attorney-general’s work in the Rikkos Erotokritou case?”

EDEK’s Costis Efstathiou said such interventions went beyond moral imperatives and into criminal territory.

“We condemn any intervention of political and partisan circles to the work of the police, the attorney-general, and the legal service,” he said.

“We note that such interventions are a criminal offence, and we will support all efforts to restore justice.”

The Greens’ deputy Giorgos Perdikis expressed the party’s support to the AG, but also complained about delays.

“As the Greens, we fully and unequivocally support the attorney-general in his work, and especially his efforts to convict those responsible for the economic tragedy,” Perdikis said.

“But it cannot go unnoticed that there is, in fact, a serious delay in concluding this work.”

EVROKO’s Marina Charalambous said Clerides needed to name those who tried to interfere with the investigations into the economy.

“If he doesn’t make specific statements so that the public is informed, his accusations will seem a desperate effort to escape his own responsibilities,” she said.

Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said there had been no intervention whatsoever to the work of the AG by the government or the Presidential Palace.

The spokesman said he was certain that “when the attorney-general saw fit, he would brief the president” about the matter.