MEP Marios Matsakis’ first taste of life on the other side of the law has been a bitter pill to swallow.
Around 110 chests, of different sizes and ages, were seized by police on Sunday from Matsakis’ home in Pyrga. The shattered MEP could only look on as police investigators searched his home from top to bottom, seizing various artifacts, most of which were chests.
“This is the lowest day of my life,” Matsakis muttered to reporters as police investigators turned up at his home at 9am in three unmarked vehicles along with officials from the Antiquities Department.
Speaking to television cameras, the deputy complained of the way the investigators had “turned his house upside down”.
“I never imagined that they would march into my house and even walk away with my furniture.”
The beleaguered MEP’s home had been guarded by a police officer for the past week to eliminate any possibility of the evidence being moved out of the premises before the investigators could move in.
The search of Matsakis’ home is set to finish today with the investigation report to be filed to the Legal Services within the coming days.
The decision on whether to file charges against Matsakis will then be taken by Attorney-general Petros Klerides.
According to police sources, investigators informed Matsakis, who stood by taking notes of the chests being taken from his home, that they had a court order and that they would search his premises. They then left his residence but returned 15 minutes later with three police lorries, which transferred around 110 chests from his home. It has yet to be confirmed if the homes of some of Matsakis’ relatives will also be searched. The chests were taken to Police Headquarters in Nicosia, where Antiquities experts are set to examine them.
The same police sources added that Matsakis would not to be questioned again in light of the seizure of the chests from his home. The MEP had the opportunity to be questioned on October 16 but instead opted to make a written statement.
Police spokesman Demetris Demetriou told the Cyprus Mail that although investigations were going smoothly, it was still far too soon to draw any conclusions. He added that officials from the Department of Antiquities were working against the clock to bring the investigations up to speed.
Sunday’s raid on Matsakis’ home was only made possible after the MEP had his parliamentary immunity lifted by the European parliament earlier this month.
Matsakis is currently facing two allegations, the one involving the suspicions he was involved in smuggling the chests from the occupied areas, and claims he tried to blackmail an Drug Squad officer, offering to change his testimony in an attempted manslaughter case involving the officer, provided he was paid £10,000.
Matsakis was yesterday unavailable for comment.
The view from Brussels
HOW is a police investigation likely to affect Matsakis’ duties and career as an MEP? Speaking in Brussels to the Cyprus Mail, German MEP Jo Leinin said small incidents could almost pass unnoticed, but big scandals would take their toll, not just on the MEP but also on the party he was representing in the European Parliament.
“I remember that we had a few cases with Forza Italia people that were under Berlusconi when he was in parliament a few years ago. These two or three members of parliament had been taken through the courts in Italy and they felt the pressure from Parliament.
“However, when you are in the European Parliament, you also have some distance from, say, Cyprus or Portugal, and this may actually help with your daily concerns or duties here. I would say that small conflicts just pass through whereas big cases against members obviously become sticking points, especially if that member has an important position like a vice chairman of a committee.”
Leinin added that although uncommon, immunities do regularly get lifted in the European Parliament.
“With 732 members of the European parliament, you always have around one or two cases in every plenary in which the relevant body is recommending to lift the immunity or to protect the immunity of an individual.
“Now if a matter arises which would conflict with certain laws like, for example, a car accident then, yes, then the member’s parliamentary rights would most likely be lifted. However, the Parliament would protect an MEP if it felt that one of its members was the target of a political campaign.”
Would such a case be damaging for an MEP’s career? Undoubtedly yes, says Leinin.
“These kinds of cases would definitely damage their reputations and obviously careers would be blemished. It can also damage your chances of being reelected for a position in parliament.”
