Government on the defence over army bribery claims
GOVERNMENT AND parliament replies to recent reports, claiming that a National Guard officer received kickbacks during an armoury system purchase by the State, still offer no light over the heart of the issue.
President Tassos Papadopoulos remained tight-lipped yesterday, saying there is “no such issue” and that he would not comment on the “inventions” of one newspaper.
“Things aren’t like that at all. And because a newspaper publishes something, I am not obliged to answer estimations of one newspaper. It is a matter of National Defence, as the Government Spokesman (Kypros Chrysostomides) has already said, and there is no comment.
“Why should I answer to inventions or publications of any one newspaper on any subject and have to explain facts that only the journalist has? If he has evidence, he should publish them and we will investigate.”
He then added that if there were any facts proving the allegations, then an investigation would ensue and under no circumstances would the matter be covered up.
“I hope you all understand that, in a just State, people are prosecuted in Court only after a testimony is given,” he concluded.
Following the House Defence Committee’s meeting on Thursday, EDEK MP and Committee president Yiannakis Omirou said that, after being informed by Defence Minister Koullis Mavronicolas, it emerged that no public money was squandered and that the government had decided not to close an official agreement with the armoury company in question.
“There was no agreement by the Cypriot Republic and any company. No money was given or received as there was no approval from the House Defence Committee”, said Omirou.
He also said that no conventional obligation for the payment of money from the government was resumed and that there was no violation of the institutional frame in the procedures for the armoury programme.
“The Committee will continue to be informed and if it is believed necessary, then the matter will be discussed by the Defence Committee”.
Vice president of DISY and ex Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos asked the government to position itself on the subject of the kickbacks and asked for an immediate investigation.
He expressed his shock that no mechanisms, such as the police or the Attorney general, were activated for such a serious matter. “Everyone has gone quiet,” he said on Thursday.
“I was expecting the government and the Parliament, not to mention the Attorney general to react. A newspaper is publishing that $500,000 were given in kickbacks. Couldn’t the Attorney general or police, in a self-appointed move, investigate it? Ask the journalist where he got his information from?”
He then talked of a “crazy, motley and incomprehensible attitude” towards the problem. It should not be covered up, he added, but thoroughly investigated so that those who are traducing the Cypriot Republic internationally can take up their responsibilities.
“The government is saying “no comment”, feeding the rumours, essentially admitting to them. Who’s fooling whom? Should I presume that this is a fiasco? What should the simple citizen presume? As a consequence they should research this because in the face of this matter, all National Guard officers are being traduced.”
Greek language daily Politis reported last Monday that a high-ranked NG officer had attempted to benefit from a multi-million state armoury systems deal by arranging a hefty kickback.
The officer was to receive a commission of $1 million in two instalments. According to Politis, the first one, worth $500.000, was deposited in his brother’s business account. The second instalment was to be deposited after the armoury systems company had sealed the deal with the government. The officer’s actions were unveiled in time.
Due to the unorthodox methods used in trapping the officer, however, prosecution has not yet been possible.
President Papadopoulos had appointed a secret surveillance team to investigate the suspicious dealings – something the president neither admits to nor denies.
The team allegedly tapped into the officer’s private telephone and online conversations – a method forbidden by Chapter 17 of the Cypriot Constitution – and informed the president on their findings who immediately cancelled dealings with the armoury company.
More substantial evidence is needed in order prosecute him though, said Attorney general Petros Klerides.
