JUSTICE Minister Loucas Louca yesterday implicated MPs in the operation of the extrajudicial ‘courts’ said to be resolving financial disputes in place of the civil legal system.
The existence of the ‘private courts’ was revealed at the House earlier in the week. Deputies heard how those with disputes would take their lawyers along and argue their respective cases in front of a ‘judge’ who would issue his decision. However deputies also heard that in some cases threats of violence and blackmail were used to resolve financial differences.
“This phenomenon is being encouraged by persons, who I’m sorry to say include MPs,” Minister Louca told the House Finance Committee yesterday, during discussions on his ministry’s budget.
Louca was then forced to withdraw his statement, when he was invited by Committee Chairman, DIKO’s Nicolas Papadopoulos, and other MPs to name names. “It is not right to leave shadows over MPS, so please either name them or withdraw your statement,” said Papadopoulos.
Louca said he was withdrawing his statement, “because the information is so confidential, it can’t be used”.
He added: “I withdraw it, but let everyone take their share of the responsibility”.
Quizzed later by reporters, Louca promised to “announce names” once he had enough evidence and information to back his statements.
Papadopoulos, however, said the minister’s claims were very serious and he should have announced the names. “If there are serious and substantiated complaints – and this is a very serious matter – then I would expect there to be specific names so that these members of parliament could defend themselves,” said Papadopoulos.
DISY’s Ionas Nicolaou, who was instrumental in revealing the existence of the extrajudicial rings earlier this week, said the minister’s claim was made to draw attention away from the fact that the police were doing little to combat the phenomenon.
“It was essentially a distraction in the wake of all these complaints that were being made by members of the public, and which we have brought to the forefront because we are seeking responsibilities,” said Nicolaou.
