Justice minister under fire over claims against lawyers

THE JUSTICE minister came under fire yesterday for suggesting that certain lawyers might be involved in “human trafficking” in helping illegal immigrants gain political asylum.

Doros Theodorou said on Tuesday that police arresting illegal immigrants were often presented with a local lawyer’s business card and a claim for political asylum. The minister claimed lawyers were earning between £200 and £400 per asylum application, alleging they advised their clients not to disclose their true identity, their passports or medical records as this made it more difficult to examine their applications.

Theodorou ended with a stark warning to lawyers: “The trafficking of human beings is a criminal offense according to EU laws.”

But United Democrats vice president George Christofides yesterday was scathing og the minister’s intervention. “These statements should not have been made. Being the Minister of Justice, surely Doros Theodorou should have first proceeded with an investigation before bringing the matter to light. He should present the Human Rights Committee with evidence against the lawyers and then file an official report,” said Christofides.

“At the moment all we have achieved is to expose our state and Cyprus. We have sent out a negative message about Cyprus. I believe the matter should be put to rest for two reasons. It is damaging to the reputation of Cyprus and more importantly there is no basis for the Minister’s statements,” said Christofides.

“If anyone has evidence that lawyers are conspiring with illegal immigrants then let them come forward and the proper measures can be taken to solve the problem.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.