Police headquarters on Sunday responded to allegations by the Green Party hinting at vested interests in a probe into the purchase of over 30,000 faulty wooden electricity poles in 2005, saying the investigations were in the final stages.
The Green Party said police had been given instructions to investigate the case at the beginning of 2015 but nothing had come of it nine months later.
‘As time passes, the potential decreases for a full investigation into the scandal,” the party said.
‘The Green Party wonders whether this long and inefficient process linked to the fact that the political head of the police, ie the minister of justice is allegedly related to the case through his law firm,” the party added.
“We do not want to believe… it is related to political affiliations and interests but the months-long delay in completing the investigation, however, raises justified suspicions.”
On Sunday police responded saying the case file had been received in January 2015 with instructions from the Legal Service to investigate whether there had been any criminal offence committed.
The probe began immediatley, the police statement said, and in this context a huge amount of statements and documents were gathered “which are being assessed”.
Requests for judicial assistance have been sent to three countries and responses are expected in due course, the police added.
“The investigation of the case is in its final stage and the questioning of suspects will follow” the statement said, after which the file will be sent to the attorney-general’s office.”
Allegations of delays and interventions had no basis in reality, the police said.
In a recent House Watchdog committee session it was reaffirmed that the rotting poles have cost the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) an estimated €10 million, and that the problem was known about a year after the poles were purchased.
While the EAC had traditionally bought poles from Scandinavian companies, the order of faulty ones marked the first time it opted to buy from a Greek company.
According to the EAC five officials were involved, of whom four have since retired.
It has ordered a disciplinary probe into the remaining official, who is still employed by the company.
