Disy denies plotting against Kyprianou

By Charlie Charalambous

DISY yesterday dispelled rumours that it was preparing to tighten the screws on Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou by pushing for a corruption probe at the House.

Reports suggested that during a weekend meeting of Disy’s executive committee, members of the party’s parliamentary group had pushed for unlawful enrichment allegations against Kyprianou’s family to be raised at the House Watchdog Committee on Thursday.

Disy deputy and committee member Rikkos Erotocritou said yesterday that the weekend meeting had been in order to brief the party on the range of corruption allegations, not to plan the downfall of Kyprianou.

“It was to inform the leader and the party on what has developed, not to take any decisions,” said Erotocritou.

He added that the committee – whose chairman Christos Pourgourides has charged Interior Minister Dinos Michaelides with 14 counts corruption – would delay any further probe so as not to conflict with the one currently being carried out by Auditor-general Spyros Christou.

But Akel deputy Takis Hadjigeorgiou said the committee had no obligation to wait for the findings of the Auditor-general before conducting its own enquiries into corruption against public figures.

“We want a comprehensive investigation, but we do not want to condemn anyone, even if the initial evidence shows there might be a problem,” said Hadjigeorgiou.

He said there was nothing to stop deputies from discussing the Kyprianou allegations, but said Akel had no evidence to make such a move.

Kyprianou has dismissed allegations that members of his family obtained property at knockdown prices in the Engomi suburb of Nicosia.

Meanwhile the government yesterday brushed aside newspaper reports that President Clerides was under pressure to sack Michaelides.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides told his daily press briefing the president still backed his minister:

“The president’s statements before leaving for New York are still valid,” said Stylianides.

The spokesman said the government was determined to get to the bottom of the corruption scandals, but at the same time follow the proper procedures.

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