Attorney General, Petros Clerides stated that the lodge of an appeal against the verdict of the Nicosia Criminal Court on “Helios” case is justified.
“We decided unanimously that the lodge of an appeal against the verdict of the majority of the Criminal Court is justified, whereas there is a dissenting decision, in which the specific judge ruled that the arguments that had been raised by the prosecution to invite the defendants to plea were founded”, he said.
The appeal to the Supreme Court must be lodged no later than 14 days.
Earlier today, Mr. Clerides burst out against lawyers, the media and the relatives of the victims of “Helios” deadly plane crush for their criticisms against the Legal Service of the Republic, after the Nicosia Criminal Court acquitted yesterday the five defendants.
Speaking to CyBC Radio, Mr. Clerides expressed his surprise that some rushed to draw conclusions and blame the Legal Service.
“Such a serious matter cannot be treated so lightly”, he said.
“When the report of former judge Panayiotis Kallis was concluded and he was asked to publish its civil part so that the lawyers of the victims claim compensations, some filed actions and some didn’t”, he explained.
It is worth noting that some customers got much higher compensations that those could be decided by the Cypriot courts.
The relatives could not get compensation twice by court order since the Republic did not bear responsibility for the plane crush.
“What actually bothers me is that some people treat the issue with improvisation. People that are not even lawyers ended up with their conclusions and I mean Mr. Nicolas Yiasoumis, Chairman of the committee of the relatives of victims of the air tragedy, who managed to read the 170-page verdict and to draw his conclusions as non-lawyer. Is this a way to deal with the Legal Service?”, he wondered.
“I advised Tassos Papadopoulos”
Invited to answer to the criticisms on the non-publication of Kallis’ report, the Attorney General said that he was the one to advise Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos in 2005 not to do so. And the reason is that its publication would affect the course of the hearing. “ I am sure that it could affect the result. And I still believe that it was the right thing to do (not to allow the publication of the penal part of the report)”, he said.
He clarified that generally the publication of reports is decided by the Council of Ministers and not the Attorney General.
At this point, Mr. Clerides said that since there is a verdict, Mr. Kalli’s report must be published.
According to it, the responsibility for the penal prosecution belongs to the Attorney General and the final responsibility for the verdict to the court.
Mr. Clerides defended Legal Service’s efforts to collect evidence and reminded of the teleconference with the US Boeing technicians and the trip to Seattle to secure the experts’ opinion.
“If the verdict is wrong, the Legal Service will lodge an appeal. Me and the lawyers will examine it and will act accordingly”, he added.
“Why some people claim justice? The fatal plane crushed because it ran out of fuel. With all the respect, the two pilots were responsible”, he said.
It is worth noting that in his statements to CyBC, Director of the President’s Office, Christos Christofides said that the government intends to publish the report.
Relatives to protest
The relatives of the “Helios” victims will protest outside the Legal Service to express their opposition to the verdict.
“We decided unanimously that the lodge of an appeal against the verdict of the majority of the Criminal Court is justified, whereas there is a dissenting decision, in which the specific judge ruled that the arguments that had been raised by the prosecution to invite the defendants to plea were founded”, he said.
The appeal to the Supreme Court must be lodged no later than 14 days.
Earlier today, Mr. Clerides burst out against lawyers, the media and the relatives of the victims of “Helios” deadly plane crush for their criticisms against the Legal Service of the Republic, after the Nicosia Criminal Court acquitted yesterday the five defendants.
Speaking to CyBC Radio, Mr. Clerides expressed his surprise that some rushed to draw conclusions and blame the Legal Service.
“Such a serious matter cannot be treated so lightly”, he said.
“When the report of former judge Panayiotis Kallis was concluded and he was asked to publish its civil part so that the lawyers of the victims claim compensations, some filed actions and some didn’t”, he explained.
It is worth noting that some customers got much higher compensations that those could be decided by the Cypriot courts.
The relatives could not get compensation twice by court order since the Republic did not bear responsibility for the plane crush.
“What actually bothers me is that some people treat the issue with improvisation. People that are not even lawyers ended up with their conclusions and I mean Mr. Nicolas Yiasoumis, Chairman of the committee of the relatives of victims of the air tragedy, who managed to read the 170-page verdict and to draw his conclusions as non-lawyer. Is this a way to deal with the Legal Service?”, he wondered.
“I advised Tassos Papadopoulos”
Invited to answer to the criticisms on the non-publication of Kallis’ report, the Attorney General said that he was the one to advise Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos in 2005 not to do so. And the reason is that its publication would affect the course of the hearing. “ I am sure that it could affect the result. And I still believe that it was the right thing to do (not to allow the publication of the penal part of the report)”, he said.
He clarified that generally the publication of reports is decided by the Council of Ministers and not the Attorney General.
At this point, Mr. Clerides said that since there is a verdict, Mr. Kalli’s report must be published.
According to it, the responsibility for the penal prosecution belongs to the Attorney General and the final responsibility for the verdict to the court.
Mr. Clerides defended Legal Service’s efforts to collect evidence and reminded of the teleconference with the US Boeing technicians and the trip to Seattle to secure the experts’ opinion.
“If the verdict is wrong, the Legal Service will lodge an appeal. Me and the lawyers will examine it and will act accordingly”, he added.
“Why some people claim justice? The fatal plane crushed because it ran out of fuel. With all the respect, the two pilots were responsible”, he said.
It is worth noting that in his statements to CyBC, Director of the President’s Office, Christos Christofides said that the government intends to publish the report.
Relatives to protest
The relatives of the “Helios” victims will protest outside the Legal Service to express their opposition to the verdict.
3287.99
1275.09
