Nicosia: President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides announced on Tuesday that the FBI will assist Cypriot authorities in the ongoing investigation into a case, known locally as the 'Sandy' case, which has been in the public spotlight following allegations made by journalist Makarios Drousiotis.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the President, speaking at the start of the Cabinet meeting, stated that he had contacted the U.S. government last week to request the FBI's support, noting that the response was 'immediately positive.' He added that 'in the coming days, a team from the FBI will come to Cyprus to assist in the investigations,' particularly in the analysis of testimonies and witness statements.
The President mentioned that the investigation is at 'a very advanced stage,' involving systematic work and continuous evaluation of evidence. He also highlighted that the Police are in constant contact and cooperation with Europol, focusing on specialized forensic examinations carried out on the basis of modern European standards and methods that 'cannot be challenged.'
He emphasized that the objective is the swift investigation of the case, underlining that the Government maintains 'zero tolerance' for issues that undermine the rule of law. 'We have a responsibility, both myself as President and all of us here as the Council of Ministers, as guardians of the Constitution. With institutional seriousness and responsibility, we must move forward by making use of our international partnerships, such as with the FBI, with one and only goal: the full - I repeat, the full - investigation and the strengthening of citizens' trust in institutions and justice,' he said.
He further noted that 'there is a Constitution, there are institutions, there is a state,' adding that 'it is the responsibility and obligation of all to respect the state and its institutions.'
The 'Sandy' case is an ongoing criminal investigation in Cyprus centered on allegations involving a woman publicly identified as 'Sandy.' According to the claims made public by the journalist and others, she was subjected to serious abuse and exploitation over a period of time. The allegations, which have circulated widely in the media and on social platforms, have raised concerns about possible involvement of multiple individuals and the adequacy of the handling of the case.