Cyprus’s Independent Authority Against Corruption is ending its investigation into the “black van” case after the Legal Service said the issues it intended to examine had already been investigated by the relevant authorities.
The decision is based on Article 10 of the 2022 law establishing and regulating the Authority. The provision states that when a criminal investigation into an alleged act of corruption within the Authority’s remit has already been launched by the police or a criminal investigator, and the Authority is informed by the Attorney General, it must not begin or must end any parallel investigation.
The case was brought before the Authority in 2023, when the Audit Office forwarded a complaint it had received, along with its own findings. The material was submitted to the Authority on May 10, 2023.
The “black van” case emerged in Larnaca in 2019 and involved a van equipped with advanced surveillance systems.
The Authority had since been monitoring developments in Cyprus, Greece and European institutions. According to its statement, it also took into account a related book by a Cypriot journalist and expanded the scope of its examination on its own initiative.
Following a preliminary review and the preparation of terms of reference, the Attorney General was informed, followed by correspondence and a meeting with the Legal Service. The communication was classified as confidential, and no further details have been disclosed.
The Transparency Commissioner approved the partial disclosure of information due to public interest, while the Authority said it would make no further public statements on the case.
Source: Politis Cyprus
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