Police investigations into the golden passport scheme remain incomplete four years after former Supreme Court president Myron Nicolatos delivered his report, primarily due to delays in receiving information from abroad and the complexity of the cases.
Although some cases have been filed before courts, the volume falls short of expectations given the Nicolatos report documented numerous suspect cases of Cypriot passports issued to foreign investors and businesspeople involved in criminal activities.
The report found that in some cases, service providers and approval authorities conducted no basic checks on investors, resulting in persons wanted by authorities in their own or other countries obtaining Cypriot citizenship and golden passports that would never have been granted under normal circumstances.
Fewer than 10 case files completed from over 100 referrals
As a result, the government through the Cabinet, acting on recommendations from a special committee, must retroactively revoke naturalisations that appear illegal. The Nicolatos report was studied by the Law Office, which issued instructions in summer 2021 to investigate dozens of investor cases where serious legal and other obstacles existed. More than 100 cases were referred to police to examine whether criminal offences occurred behind the naturalisation acts.
The special investigation team at Police Headquarters was at one stage reinforced with personnel who investigated the economic collapse, however procedures are complex and investigations lengthy. Certain cases involving known persons received priority attention, whilst examinations continue for remaining cases.
November meeting scheduled to review investigation progress
To date, police through the special unit established at Police Headquarters have sent fewer than 10 completed files to the Law Office, covering over 20 naturalisation cases. Some cases have been adjudicated by courts, others remain pending, and one was ordered for retrial following acquittal. The largest case before a criminal court, which has not yet begun hearing, concerns the Andreas Dimitriades law firm in Paphos.
According to sources, a meeting has been scheduled at the Law Office for early November to examine all cases under investigation, their progress and remaining actions required. Some cases are stuck in procedural matters, including challenges to search warrants and acquisition of evidence by investigative authorities, as well as securing telecommunications data. Several cases await information from abroad, whilst certain cases are in final stages.
Largest case involving Paphos law firm awaits court hearing
At the meeting, investigators will brief Law Office heads on progress in a serious passport issuance case involving a lawyer and other persons under investigation. Developments are expected soon for this case, as a matter was referred to the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the relevant search warrant.
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