Police followed customary procedure in probing a complaint filed by the justice minister, police spokesman Christos Andreou said on Wednesday, responding to criticism that authorities had shown excessive zeal in the case.
After Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis reported a parody account of her on Twitter, police obtained a warrant to search the home of a Larnaca resident suspected of being behind the account, prompting a wave of criticism on social media.
However, Andreou on Wednesday defended the actions carried out by the police, claiming that every year about similar 50 cases come under investigation.
“The Justice Minister reported the account after she noticed a photo of her father with commentary that she deemed offensive and that violated her personal data,” he told the Cyprus News Agency.
“Following the usual legal procedure for such cases, we forwarded the complaint to the district court, which issued a search warrant for data breach and data forgery violations.
Andreou said that police confiscated a number of electronic devices from the house searched on December 27, but these were returned to the owner the next day after the cyber-crime police checked them.
The account, which says is a “parody account of Emily Kardashian Yioliti, Fashion Icon, Rich Lawyer, Instagram Influencer, Socialite, ex EAC Chairman & Minister of Justice, Banana Republic,” was still up on Tuesday.
The woman whose house police searched issued a statement through her lawyer, Elias Christou, denying any involvement.
“Our client cooperated fully with the police,” the statement said.
“She states that there was no, nor is there any connection with the parody account on Twitter concerning the honourable minister Mrs Emily Yiolitis. Linking our client with the Twitter account is malicious.”
The lawyer went on to suggest that the search warrant constituted “illegal fishing for evidence,” adding that his client reserved all her legal rights.
The Justice Minister said she had no intention to pursue legal measures against the individual.
“My view is that it goes beyond satire when it offends the dignity of my father and my relatives. Let them deal with me only,” Yiolitis tweeted, wishing everyone “health, love, humour, and patience.”
