The defendants in the criminal case reappeared today before the Permanent Court of Nicosia to answer the charges against them, concerning both the reportage of the Al Jazeera news network[/B] and events in the context of the exceptional naturalisations of foreign investors and businessmen, based on the findings of the Nicolatou Commission.
All four face five charges, involving offences of conspiracy to defraud the Republic and influencing a public official in violation of the law ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on the Criminalisation of Corruption.
Dimitris Sylouris[/B] is represented by lawyer Chris Triantafyllidis and a team of lawyers, while Christakis Tziovanis and Antonis Antoniou are represented by lawyer George Papaioannou. Andreas Pittatzis is representing himself.
One of the defendants, Antonis Antoniou, did not appear before the court today because he is suffering from covid.
Only Andreas Pittatzis, who denied the charges, gave a response, while the other three have been set January 1 to answer the charges, court objections.[/B] For Pittatzis, the next trial is set for March 8-9.
The lawyer of Dimitris Syllouris, Chris Triantaphyllides, raised the issue of abuse of process at the start of the trial. "I have prepared 7 points to become admissible facts to base my submission on. The abuse consists on counts 1,2,3 with the involvement of the state at the cabinet level with the participation of the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General. Charges 4-5 concern the involvement of a foreigner who is a non-existent person," he said, referring to the existence of illegality for the involvement of Syllouris.
George Papaioannou[/B] said that "charges 1,3,5 lack legal basis," noting that there is a problem with regard to the promotion of charge 4 because it speaks of a non-existent person.
For his part, Andreas Pittatzis said "I respect the positions of colleagues I will not raise any objection and nor will I adopt any position, I do not seek acquittal but vindication. In the temple of justice let us all be heard," he said and declared a non-admission to the charges against him.
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