The trial in one of Cyprus' most high-profile criminal cases of recent years, linked to the country's citizenship-by-investment programme, has been postponed once again. Proceedings involving former Cyprus Transport Minister Marios Demetriades, along with several other individuals and companies, were due to begin before the Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court, but the hearing was delayed because of the court's heavy caseload.
The trial is now scheduled to begin on July 14 at 9:30 a.m. The case is regarded as one of the most significant investigations arising from the international controversy surrounding the Cyprus Investment Programme, which was permanently terminated in 2020.
Who is facing charges?
A total of ten defendants have been charged, including eight individuals and two corporate entities. In addition to former Transport Minister Marios Demetriades, those facing charges are Andreas Demetriades, Dimitris Demetriades, George Demetriades, Eleni Simillidi, Jing Wang, Joseph Fredrich Santin, Vasiliki Georgiou-Santin, as well as the companies Andreas Demetriades & Co LLC and Delsk (Cyprus) Business Services Ltd.
The prosecution has brought a wide range of charges relating to alleged irregularities in the granting of Cypriot citizenship under the investment programme.
The charges include unlawful influence over decision-making, bribery, corruption, conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, and violations of the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. However, the trial is only just beginning, and it will ultimately be for the court to assess the evidence presented.
Preliminary defence motions to be considered before the trial begins
Before the main proceedings commence, the court will consider a number of preliminary applications. One of the key requests submitted by the defence asks the Attorney General to disclose whether any immunity agreement or other arrangement offering reduced liability was made with one of the prosecution's principal witnesses in exchange for cooperation with investigators. The court's decision on these applications could influence the course of the trial.
The case remains one of Cyprus' most closely watched
Investigations into the so-called "golden passport" programme have been ongoing in Cyprus for several years. Following international media investigations and the publication of Al Jazeera's undercover report, the Cypriot authorities launched a series of criminal and disciplinary investigations, while the citizenship-by-investment programme was abolished.
The proceedings are being closely monitored both in Cyprus and internationally, as they could become an important milestone in the investigation of alleged irregularities in the granting of Cypriot citizenship to foreign investors. It is important to emphasise, however, that all defendants are presumed innocent. Under Cypriot law, they remain innocent unless and until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.