‘Paramilitary case’ colonel may be charged

The Attorney-general’s office has announced that enough evidence has been gathered against a National Guard colonel found by a military investigation to have tampered with documents for him to be prosecuted.

In a statement late on Friday, Alecos Markides’ office said that having studied the evidence submitted on the charges against Colonel Loizos Fessas, it has “come to the conclusion that the evidence collected is sufficient to warrant charges being pressed against him”.

Fessas gave a colleague documents allegedly proving the existence of a ‘paramilitary’ group within the National Guard, accused of keeping tabs on the political persuasions of army officers. The colleague passed these on to a deputy who made the issue public.

The announcement said that charges of “attempted or premeditated illegal possession of or obtaining of military secrets, taking action or demonstrating behaviour that goes against military discipline and attempting to disrupt order and discipline in the military” could be pressed against the colonel.

It continued that the Attorney-general’s opinion would be passed on to the Chief of the National Guard and Military Court for a decision on whether further action will be taken.

The case was brought to light in May by Akel deputy Costas Papacostas, who said the papers had been given to him by army colonel Avraam Marangos and that the ruling Disy party was behind the group.

The documents outlined the structure of the group, naming retired high-raking officials as its leaders. Fessas has since admitted drafting one of the documents but said he did so only to better illustrate how the alleged group operated.

Disy has categorically denied forming such a group, dismissing the issue as a sham.

A Defence Ministry investigation into the issue has, meanwhile, found no evidence that such a group ever existed.

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