THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL yesterday vehemently denied efforts of a cover-up were behind his decision not to make public the criminal investigation report into the escape of convicted murderer Antonis Prokopiou Kitas last year.
His denial follows press reports that by not going public the AG was effectively trying to keep the lid on the contents of the potentially explosive reports.
Opposition DISY and EVROKO essentially accused Clerides of trying to do the same thing, while AKEL accused both right-wing parties of electioneering ahead of next month’s Euro elections.
“I reject these insinuations with all the contempt they deserve,” Clerides said.
“I have never seen a criminal investigation report made public. All that would achieve would be for the media to get its hands on it and to start a trial.”
The AG said if the reports were made public before he had time to fully examine their content and to determine if and who held any criminal or disciplinary responsibility in last December’s debacle, the public would not only be misinformed but certain individuals would be tried through the media.
“How can you stand up and take people to court when all the statements have already been published? Before this story has even begun, people are talking about a cover-up,” he said.
Not known for his patience or fondness of being crossed, Clerides said he would reach a decision by June 15.
He said: “Is that such a long time for the Attorney-general to ask for?”
The AG said it was obvious aspects of the entire case were “infected and corrupt”, from why Kitas had been hospitalized at a private hospital for so long to how he had been allowed to make and receive thousands of calls on a mobile phone. He made it clear these were questions that had been raised months ago and that weren’t going anywhere.
“Even had [I] wanted there to be a cover-up it wouldn’t be possible. And why would the Attorney-general blacken his name,” he said.
But DISY deputy Ionas Nicolaou said a cover-up was inevitable unless the reports were used to shed light on all aspects of the case so that public faith in the state’s institutions could be regained.
Another aspect that troubled the outspoken deputy was how the criminal investigation was supposed to answer all questions when it was only being used for the purpose of criminal prosecutions.
He said: “I did not say the Attorney-general was trying to cover-up the case. What I have established is that the answers that should have been given to the public will be covered up. How will political and ethical responsibilities be apportioned when we are limiting ourselves to criminal responsibilities?”
Nicolaou said he was very much afraid that by refusing the make the report public, the primary purpose of the criminal investigation was not being met.
“It wasn’t about prosecuting two or three police officers or five prison guards, the point was to answer the public’s burning questions,” he said.
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said it was obvious the opposition parties were acting out of “expediency and ulterior motives”.
Kyprianou said DISY and EVROKO only had one aim and that was to hurt the President of the Republic, the government and AKEL.
“This obsession of theirs makes them take a stand that leaves them very exposed,” he said.
Kyprianou said as a lawyer, Nicolaou should have known the Republic did not operate in the manner in which he was demanding. He also said the DISY deputy’s demands were not only dangerous but simple an effort at electioneering.
“And I have no doubt that if we were in any other period he would be manically defending the AG’s decision not to make the report public. This report is not the investigative material. It is the conclusion reached by the six criminal investigators. Imagine what would happen if a name was made public and then in court it was proven to be mistake. Who would compensate that person, ethically not financially, who was left exposed.”
Justice Minister Loucas Louca also defended the AG and said he had seen no effort of a cover up. In fact he said he agreed with the AG regarding the report’s publication.
“And I believe the entire political and legal world agree with the Attorney-general’s position,” he said.
“It is clearly up to the AG how he goes ahead with the reports and the existing evidence. He will decide, he is the expert and the competent authority to go ahead with any disciplinary or criminal prosecutions,” he said.
The minister told reporters he had not seen the report and nor would he.
“I have not seen it, and as has been mentioned, the AG will inform no one. It is in his competency how he will move forward. But I saw no effort of a cover up – on the contrary. He has undertaken to examine it in 15 days and to make new statements regarding his intentions.”
