The Independent Authority Against Corruption has said that its decision to broaden, of its own initiative, the investigation into the "Black Van" case included Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides, contradicting the impression given by the Attorney General's recent statements.
At a meeting on 29 July, the Deputy Attorney General left the room once it became clear that his own involvement would also be examined. The following day, the Attorney General stated that everything had already been investigated, creating the impression that this included the matter concerning the Deputy Attorney General. The Authority notes that, when the Attorney General responded the next day that everything the Authority wished to investigate had already been investigated, this reasonably created the impression that the issue of the Deputy Attorney General was included.
Timeline of the dispute
The Independent Authority Against Corruption clarified that it had decided to broaden, of its own initiative, the investigation into the Black Van case to include all aspects of the matter, as well as the Deputy Attorney General. According to the Authority, this intention was made clear at a meeting with the Legal Service on 29 July, during which the Deputy Attorney General left the meeting. The Authority notes that when the Attorney General responded the following day that everything the Authority wished to investigate had already been investigated, this reasonably created the impression that the issue of the Deputy Attorney General was included.
The Authority's statement in full
Following yesterday's statements by the Attorney General that the Independent Authority Against Corruption ("the Authority") had not raised the issue of the Legal Service's handling of the Black Van case or a possible conflict of interest involving the Deputy Attorney General, the Authority clarifies the following:
As stated in the Authority's announcement yesterday, it had been decided to broaden, of its own initiative, the scope of the investigation to cover all aspects of the Black Van case.
To this end, a letter dated 16 July 2026 was sent to the Attorney General, setting out, in general terms, the Authority's intentions.
Because clarifications were needed regarding the precise scope of the proposed investigation, a meeting was arranged for this purpose at the offices of the Legal Service.
The meeting took place on 29 July 2026, attended, on behalf of the Legal Service, by the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, a prosecutor and a Senior Counsel of the Republic. On behalf of the Authority, those present were the Commissioner for Transparency, a member of the Authority, and a legal officer.
During the meeting, when it became clear that the scope of the proposed investigation included the Deputy Attorney General, he considered it appropriate to leave the meeting, given that the investigation would also concern him.
From that point at the latest, if not earlier, the Authority's intention to include the Deputy Attorney General within the scope of the proposed investigation was known.
Therefore, when the Attorney General sent his letter the following day, 30 July 2026, stating that everything the Authority wished to investigate had already been investigated, this reasonably created the impression that the matter of the Deputy Attorney General was included.
The Authority made clear its intention to conduct an investigation covering all aspects of the Black Van case and, to that end, had been working for a considerable period of time gathering material on all the relevant facts.
