All we can do in relation to the death of National Guardsman Thanasis Nikolaos is to patiently await the completion of the police interrogations so that it can be seen if there can be any outcome, Attorney General of the Republic, George Savvidis, said on Thursday, after the award ceremony for the "Design Competition for Preliminary Designs for the Implementation of the Legal Service Building".
Asked if there is any development in relation to the investigative work on the death of the unfortunate National Guardsman, in light of next Saturday's protest by Thanasis' family outside the Legal Service Building, Mr Savvidis said that the Police must deliver a report soon and within a fixed time frame that he set.
Mr Savvidis explained that during the meeting he had with the family a few weeks ago, they had agreed that they would not make any public comments in order to allow the police to carry out their investigative work unhindered.
He also said that "the present leadership of the Legal Service has made too many efforts to reopen or to do what can be done today, after 17 years, in finding those responsible for the death of the unfortunate National Guardsman."
"All we can do is patiently await the completion within the stipulated time frame that I set for the police investigations so that we can see if there can be any conclusion," he said.
He also noted that there was and is ongoing communication between the four police investigators and their one private investigator, whom he appointed as a criminal investigator with the family.
"Up until a few days ago there was a meeting in the presence of the family and in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the police investigating team. There was a review on where the whole matter stands. I will limit myself to what we have already said that we do not want to make any public statements until this process is over," he said.
Findings on Prisons, former YKAN Governor and rigged bets
In relation to the findings currently under study concerning thepossible commission of criminal offences at the Central Prison[/B], the allegations made by the Director of Prisons about the former Governor of the YKAN and fixed betting in basketball, the Attorney General said that the Legal Service has to deal with all three specific issues, however, he noted that it has to deal with a number of other issues which are constantly before it and which it has to deal with.
He assured that "all matters receive proper and thorough study on a case-by-case basis."
I understand, said Mr. Savvidis, "that there is a desire to have results, decisions and solutions as soon as possible, but on the other hand I want to confirm once again that our decisions are based on the analysis of scientific data and are taken away from any pressure, whether it comes from journalists or anyone else".
He also noted that when the Legal Service is ready, the necessary statements will be made to express the expectation that it will be ready soon.
In addition, he said that a meeting has been arranged with theSports Ethics Committee, which will take place next week at the Legal Service, to note that at that meeting they will speak with all members and exchange views on both their existing findings and any other thoughts they may wish to share with them.
Naturalizations
Asked what stage the investigative work on the naturalization cases before the Police is at, Mr. Savides said that there are many cases, which are being examined by the Police, noting that "some of them are at a final stage".
He said the Legal Service expects that once the files are completed, they will be submitted to it.
"It must be understood," he said, "that many times when a report is submitted by the investigators, it does not mean that the interrogation is over. It may be found that some evidence needs further study and further direction from the legal officers and that is something that may result in the file being sent back to the police authorities. This can be done several times until the Legal Service feels secure that what needed to be done in the investigative work has been done, so that safe decisions can be made," he stressed.
Source: CNA
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