The three Greek Cypriot lawyers who will participate in the conduct of the independent investigation into the claims contained in Makarios Drousiotis’ book “Mafia State” about former President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiades, and concern possible acts of corruption, were announced by the Independent Authority Against Corruption.
According to the Authority’s announcement, they are Charilaos Chrysanthou, Orestis Nikitas, and Andreas Efthymiou, who, led by Gabrielle Louise McIntyre, are tasked with conducting the investigation.
As we revealed last Saturday, the experienced lawyer Gabrielle Louise McIntyre has already arrived in Cyprus and agreed to take on the role of inspection officer for the said complaint.
The three were appointed as inspection officers of the investigation, receiving the Terms of Reference from the Independent Authority Against Corruption, while they committed that they do not have any conflicts of interest regarding the events they will investigate.
Moreover, regarding the Terms of Reference, they include all allegations of corruption contained in Makarios Drousiotis’ book “Mafia State,” which fall within the scope of the Independent Authority Against Corruption’s jurisdiction.
It is also noted that the inspection team has begun working on organizing the course of the investigation, while Ms. McIntyre will be back in Cyprus on March 3, 2024.
Gabrielle McIntyre, hailing from Australia and currently residing in England, is considered an expert in international criminal law and procedure, international human rights law, and administrative law.
She arrived in Cyprus for the first time on Monday, February 12, 2024, upon the Authority’s invitation, and stayed until Friday, February 16, 2024.
She has no ties to Cyprus. During this period, an agreement was reached between the two sides, and she received the Terms of Reference for the investigation.
Charilaos Chrysanthou has been a practicing lawyer since 2000 and runs his own law firm.
He has extensive experience in handling criminal and civil cases.
Orestis Nikitas is a lawyer registered since 2003, also running his own law firm.
Since November 2020, he has been the President of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association. He has broad experience in criminal and civil law matters.
Andreas Efthymiou is a registered lawyer and runs his own law firm in Larnaca.
He provided his legal services as the lead Legal Associate/Researcher in the Investigative Committee for the Collapse of the Cooperative Credit System (Aresti Committee) and in the Investigative Committee for Exceptional Naturalization of Foreign Investors and Entrepreneurs (Nicolaou Committee).
He is a member of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association.
