Larnaca businessman Antonis Fanieros was let go free today on the advice of the Attorney-general’s office following yesterday’s retraction in court of three testimonies by an equal number of prosecution witnesses.
Fanieros, 67, was arrested during a police raid on September 23 and formally charged on October 10.
On the first day of the trial on Monday, three prosecution witnesses withdrew their testimonies with the prosecution declaring them hostile.
Two of the witnesses said they had given their testimonies under police duress while a third said he had only testified against Fanieros so that the police would withdraw two pending cases against him.
A fourth witness was in the north and did not attend.
The state prosecutor asked for a postponement on Monday to consult with the Attorney-general’s office on how to proceed.
Earlier this morning, the office of the Attorney-general postponed criminal charges and Fanieros was let go.
Three others were also facing charges along with Fanieros: Costantinos Hadjiantonis, Andreas Charalambous and Neophytos Moleskis. All but the latter were held in custody until trial facing 28 charges including arson, participation in a criminal organisation and extortion allegedly committed between 2010 and 2011.
Offences were punishable with at least five years’ imprisonment making them the jurisdiction of criminal court.
Police was unable to say earlier today whether the other three were still facing charges though a police spokesman said it was unlikely they would as chages were interrelated.
Fanieros’ arrest was a high profile case with police chief Michalis Papageorgiou even briefing political parties about the operation in a bid to secure their backing.
Following his arrest, the police issued a public call for people to come forward and testify against Fanieros.
“Now is the time and the golden opportunity,” former police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos had said.
Fanieros’ son, Loucas, spoke of a police “conspiracy” while daily newspaper Politis published an alleged letter to President Demetris Christofias by Fanieros accusing the the police of trying to frame him.
Fanieros was previously targeted by the police in November 2010 as part of an anti-gambling raid.
Fanieros who survived an attempt against his life in 1997, was jailed in 2001 for five years in connection with a share scam.
