Attorney General George Savvides has told the House Ethics Committee that the report prepared by criminal investigator Andreas Paschalides in the high-profile Videogate case will not be submitted to parliament, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.
In a letter sent ahead of an extraordinary meeting of the House Ethics Committee scheduled for Friday, Savvides also stated that neither the criminal investigator nor police officers summoned to attend will answer questions from MPs regarding the case.
The attorney general said the criminal process remains active, with part of the investigative work still ongoing and other aspects awaiting assessment and decisions by the Legal Service.
Concerns over interference
In his letter, Savvides urged committee members to take several issues into serious consideration.
He noted that any discussion of the investigative process, or any attempt to disclose material outside a competent court, could affect both the investigation and the fundamental rights of those involved if the case ultimately proceeds to trial.
He further stated that individuals called to the committee who possess knowledge relevant to the case cannot answer questions or present documents relating to the investigation because doing so could affect the administration of justice.
Report will not be disclosed
Regarding Paschalides' report, Savvides said there are additional legal reasons preventing either its submission to the committee or the disclosure of its contents.
He added that these reasons stem from existing legislation and case law, although he did not consider it appropriate to elaborate on them at this stage.
‘Within the constitutional framework’
The attorney general concluded by stressing that these constitute his legal positions and expressed the expectation that they would be given serious consideration.
"I expect that they will be taken seriously so that any parliamentary procedures and/or decisions operate within the framework of the Constitution," Savvides wrote.
The House Ethics Committee is due to meet on Friday to examine matters relating to the Videogate affair and the findings of the criminal investigation.
