Nikitas could tag on antiquities case to request for lifting of Matsakis immunity

ATTORNEY-general Solon Nikitas yesterday confirmed that DIKO MEP Marios Matsakis could also be involved in offences committed in violation of the Antiquities Law.

Matsakis has been accused of being involved in the illicit trade of historical artefacts stolen from the homes of Greek Cypriot refugees who fled the Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island.

Matsakis is already in hot water on suspicion of seeking £10,000 to help acquit a police officer implicated in a manslaughter case.

Early in July, Nikitas announced he would be seeking the lifting of Matsakis’ immunity from the President of the European Parliament.

Meanwhile, however, it emerged that the police had also been investigating his alleged involvement in the purchase of stolen antiquities from the occupied north.

In a written statement yesterday, Nikitas said that on July 29, it had been published that the police were investigating a second, separate case against Matsakis.

“The case file concerning the allegations about Mr Matsakis’ involvement in the trade of old objects belonging to displaced Greek Cypriots had not been submitted to the legal service at that stage,” the statement said.

Since then, the police have submitted the file, from which it emerged that Matsakis had potentially committed offences in violation of the Antiquities Law, Nikitas said.

In light of this second possible offence, the Attorney-general judged that the application to the President of the European Parliament should also include the second case in order to assist in its full investigation, the statement said.

Nikitas stressed that a deputy’s immunity was lifted when the evidence backed, at least prima facie, the possibility of an offence, whose commitment justified criminal prosecution.

“The procedure of lifting the immunity aims primarily at the completion of the investigation but does not necessarily imply the deputy’s criminal prosecution, even less his conviction,” the Attorney-general added.

Nikitas, however, did not say when he would be filing the application to the European Parliament.

Matsakis, who officially took his seat as an MEP on July 20, has claimed the allegations are part of a vicious campaign to destroy him.

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