Two assistant tax commissioners appointed

By George Psyllides

The House Finance Committee on Tuesday approved the appointment of two assistant tax commissioners despite DIKO’s objections about one of them because of links with an audit firm under investigation in connection with party funding.

The matter was discussed behind closed doors. The two assistants, Stelios Kountouris and Anastasia Akkidou, were approved by the committee though DIKO disagreed with the latter’s appointment due to her links with the Kyprianides, Nicolaou and Associates audit firm.

DIKO chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos said Akkidou works for a firm that is under investigation in connection with donations made to AKEL by a Focus Maritime Corporation – owned by Greek shipowner Michalis Zolotas who is believed to be linked to former Laiki strongman Andreas Vgenopoulos.

Vgenopoulos is widely held responsible for the collapse of the island’s banking system.

“We do not know if she is personally involved or if she is implicated in any criminal offense or if she has any responsibility,” Papadopoulos said. “But we do not know any different either.”

“The only thing we know is that at the moment there is an investigation by the auditor-general and for this reason we cannot approve her appointment,” he added.

The DIKO chairman said the position came with significant powers and “in our view this appointment hurts the credibility, prestige, and image of the institutions of the Republic.”

Reports said Focus paid €500,000 directly to DISY in ten instalments of €50,000 in January and February of 2008, and almost €1.5m to AKEL – of which €1m was paid through offshore Abendale Management Corporation in two equal instalments in September 2007, and €450,000 in June 2008 through Kyprianides, Nicolaou &Associates.

The firm has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the money was paid for services rendered.

AKEL flatly denied having received any money from Focus, while DISY only acknowledged receipt of €50,000, which it returned to legacy Laiki.

In an interview with daily Politis in April, President Nicos Anastasiades said it was Focus however, which transferred the entire amount. The rest of the money was donated by various other (unnamed) shipowners asked by the party to help fly in students from abroad to vote in the presidential elections.

Anastasiades said no one knew at the time if Focus was linked with Vgenopoulos.

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