THE NICOSIA District Court yesterday renewed the remand of outgoing chairman of Anorthosis Andreas Panteli for another three days, as the police called for the lifting of banking secrecy for the disclosure of his accounts.
Panteli, 48, is accused of stealing €418,000 from Champions League proceeds, and attempting to appropriate some €500,000 from the club through false pretences.
He is also being probed on suspicion of forgery, circulating forged documents and attempting to cover up the offences.
Panteli was yesterday represented in court by his new lawyer George Papaioannou, after the previous one, Yiannakis Ioannou, was told on a live TV show that he was no longer authorised to speak on Panteli’s behalf.
Case investigator Sergeant Pieris Neocleous told the court yesterday that even though Panteli had pledged to co-operate with the investigating authorities in court on Saturday, he had not been co-operative yesterday and failed to provide investigators with any answers.
Neocleous said the CID was calling for the lifting of banking secrecy to acquire access to Panteli’s bank accounts. Neocleous also said that police investigators were to travel to Greece and Switzerland to take statements from people with whom Panteli had contact for the transfer of a specific Anorthosis player.
On Monday, Panteli struck a deal with the club under which he announced his “immediate” resignation and pledged to return any amount of money “that may be found to be owed.” In return, the club agreed to drop the charges.
Assistant Attorney-general Akis Papasavvas yesterday said that: “The decision of the Anorthosis Board to withdraw the charges against the resigning club chairman does not change the course of the investigation… The criminal procedure in a constitutional state does not depend on whether someone files a charge and then changes their mind.”
Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas added that: “The investigation will continue with a fast pace.” According to Papasavvas, when the criminal investigation is complete, it will be submitted to the Legal Service, which will decide whether they will prosecute. “This material will give a clear picture of whether any crimes were committed,” he said.
Justice Minister Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday that “The investigation is ongoing. The file will be completed and placed before the Attorney-general. The AG himself will decide on the course of the case.”
Panteli has been remanded in custody since Friday night when he was arrested.
