THE investigator tasked with looking into the July 11 naval base blast that killed 13 and incapacitated the main power station has not ruled out summoning President Demetris Christofias to testify if necessary.
Lawyer Polys Polyviou also revealed that among the thousands of case-related documents in his possession, there were a few discrepancies.
Polyviou has been appointed by the cabinet to investigate whether any state or other officials can be held responsible for the blast at the Evangelos Florakis base that caused an energy crisis and amplified the island’s economic problems.
Polyviou’s inquiry runs simultaneously with a police investigation into possible criminal offences related with the incident.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Polyviou did not rule out summoning Christofias, whom a lot of people blame for the incident, to testify.
“In similar cases in Britain and elsewhere, both (former British prime minister) Tony Blair, appeared before an investigative committee for Iraq … while in the US (former president Bill) Clinton and others underwent questioning, and I do not consider this demeaning for the President,” Polyviou said.
He reiterated that Christofias had told him that he would investigate “everyone and everything” including the president.
“I cannot say now of I am going to summon A or B or C, but I consider the presence of all protagonists or individuals mentioned necessary, to respond to questions,” Polyviou said.
He said he has so far received in excess of 14,000 pages of documents related to the seizure of 98 containers of Iranian munitions that eventually exploded after being left exposed to the elements for over two years.
Polyviou said among the documents there were minutes from meetings, which contained inconsistencies, but declined to give further details.
Police are already investigating the alleged alteration of one such document by a foreign ministry officer.
Reports suggested the officer had been asked by a superior to add a paragraph to the minutes of a meeting that discussed the cargo that would make former foreign minister Marcos Kyprianou look good.
Kyprianou has since denied any involvement in the affair.
Polyviou said his committee’s public hearings will start in August 29 – a week later than previously announced.
However, his findings report was still scheduled for September 30.
