THE GOVERNMENT yesterday denied it had sought to cover up allegations against DIKO MEP Marios Matsakis, accused of asking for £10,000 from a police officer to help acquit him from attempted manslaughter charges he might be facing.
The story was broken last week by Politis, which published a confidential police report detailing the alleged exchanges between Matsakis and the officer.
Matsakis insists he is innocent and on Tuesday filed a libel suit against the newspaper, seeking up to £250,000 in damages and a court injunction banning Politis from publishing any further reports in connection with the case.
But yesterday the government appeared to be changing its stance on the issue.
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides defended the government’s actions, denying suggestions it had contributed to the closing of the case.
And while opponents of the government have suggested the case would not have been pursued further had Politis not uncovered the affair, Chrysostomides yesterday insisted the case was still open.
“What I know is that the file has not closed, so it is open,” the spokesman said.
The police report said the exchanges between Matsakis and the officer took place in April.
“The police investigation, the bureaucracy possibly involved to complete the procedure; I do not think there is an issue of exceptional delay,” Chrysostomides said.
He added: “The President of the Republic and the government did what needed to be done in accordance to the laws and the constitution.”
“The issue is in the hands of the Attorney-general and the ministry and I have nothing to add to the statements of the President, who stressed that he respected the institutions and laws of the state,” Chrysostomides said.
President Tassos Papadopoulos has admitted that he knew about the case since April 23 and had instructed that the law should follow its course.
On April 29, the chief of police wrote a letter asking Attorney-general Solon Nikitas for instructions.
Nikitas replied the next day, saying there was not enough evidence to warrant a procedure for lifting Matsakis’ immunity.
Despite knowing, Papadopoulos never informed his party, and Matsakis was allowed to run for the elections to the European parliament.
The spokesman stressed that the President’s referral to “unfounded charges” meant that he was not authorised to take any action based on the allegations.
“I do not think the President had assessed the charges brought to his knowledge on April 23, but he said that if there were reports they should be referred to the Attorney-general,” Chrysostomides said.
Justice Minister Doros Theodorou sent a fresh letter to the Attorney-general on Wednesday, asking for clarifications as to how to proceed in the case.
Attorney-general Solon Nikitas is expected to reply today.
Reports said no new evidence had been supplied by the minister.
“You cannot not resolve cases, which are a very large burden on society’s conscience,” Theodorou said.
Government partners AKEL yesterday urged Matsakis to heed his party’s urges to “assist and show sensitivity on the issue”.
“We think the proportions of the issue concerning Matsakis are damaging for the dignity and reliability of political life in our country and do not benefit society at all,” AKEL spokesman Andros Kyprianou said.
