DIKO MEP Marios Matsakis has not yet responded to an Antiquities Department request to ascertain whether or not he is in possession of undeclared antiquities.
Matsakis, who has been in the public limelight for the past month following allegations that he tried to extort £10,000 to secure the acquittal of a drug squad officer under investigation for attempted manslaughter, is now facing claims he was involved in a smuggling ring trading in antiquities brought from the occupied areas.
Both detailed police reports were leaked to Politis newspaper.
Although the possession of undeclared antiquities is a criminal offence, Matsakis’ parliamentary immunity poses a hurdle for investigating authorities, thwarting their efforts obtain a search warrant for the deputy’s home.
Nevertheless Communication and Works Minister Harris Thrasou said this would not deter the ongoing investigation into the allegations.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Thrasou said the Antiquities Department was still waiting for the MEP to reply to its letter asking if he had any antiquities in his possession – either in his name or someone else’s. He said he hoped Matsakis would respond to the letter as soon as possible, but added this would not slow down his Ministry’s investigation into the matter, nor the authorities’ attempts to find ways in which to lift the deputy’s parliamentary immunity.
Until July 20, Matsakis enjoys dual immunity as a local deputy and MEP. Next week, he will lose his local immunity and only have immunity within the European Parliament when the newly elected members of the European Parliament are due to swear in.
Police are working around the clock to finish their investigations as soon as possible, so that the case is fully clarified before then. Attorney-general Solon Nikitas has filed a request to the Supreme Court to lift Matsakis’ immunity, but after July 20, the application for lifting the deputy’s immunity will have to be filed to the competent body of the European Union, an option the government is keen to avoid so as to avoid embarrassment in Europe.
Thrasou said: “The ministry has an obligation to see the investigation of this case through to the end. We are faced with a few practical difficulties, which I mentioned yesterday, such as the fact that Mr Matsakis is protected by his parliamentary immunity. (But) we will investigate other possible ways in which we might bring this matter to pass.”
He added that the Justice Ministry, as well as police, had information that the antiquities had been transferred from Matsakis’ Pyrga home and where to.
Thrasou said: “I am aware that the Ministry, as well as the police, are in possession of information which they are investigating.”
However, Matsakis has denied any claims of unlawful activity since the latest story first broke on Sunday. He said he possessed a collection of artefacts but that he had never been involved in trading the items. Instead, Matsakis said he had rescued them from an appalling condition and that his aim was “to contribute to safeguarding and rescuing our cultural heritage”. The MEP also maintained he had plans to transfer the antiques to a special display area as soon as his busy schedule allowed.
Asked to comment on Matsakis’ assertions of innocence – which led the MEP to file a second libel suit for £250,000 against Politis newspaper – Thrasou said: “Whether or not Mr Matsakis’ claims are true or not will be proved when the investigation has been completed.”
Asked if this meant the case could eventually go to court, the minister added: “I cannot say what the procedure will be. The investigation will continue from both the Antiquities Department, as well as the police, and we will co-ordinate our efforts until we reach some sort of conclusion which will then be put to the public.”
