Anti-corruption chief says ‘black van’ case still open

Local corruptionIndependent Authority against Corruptionlaw officesurveillanceTop News Anti-corruption chief says ‘black van’ case still open Anti Corruption Chief Says 'black Van' Case Still Open Relevant News Anti-corruption chief says ‘black van’ case still open 17 September 2026 Christodoulides, Erhurman meet before Cyprus talks shift to New York 17 September 2026 No guarantee investors will cover Great Sea Interconnector cost overruns 17 September 2026 Fanis Makrides 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The “black van” case, and the wider surveillance affair, should not be considered closed. That is what Transparency Commissioner and Independent Authority Against Corruption head Haris Poyiadjis told Phileleftheros yesterday. Asked whether the latest developments had changed anything, including statements over the past 24 hours from the investigative body he heads and from Attorney General Giorgos Savvides, Poyiadjis said the Authority is currently examining a number of related actions. He would not specify further when asked. He did say, however, that although the investigation itself had ended, the case is not considered closed. The Authority had announced last Monday, after a meeting on July 29 between its officials and the heads of the Law Office, that it had decided to end its investigation. The same day, Savvides issued a written statement setting out his own view of events. Statements from both sides at the time suggested that Article 10 of the law governing the Authority’s operations left no room for further investigation. That reading was reinforced by the Attorney General’s position that everything the Authority was meant to investigate in the “black van” case had already been examined, since the case went to court in 2021. That position was contested from the start by independent legal circles, who argue the article was misread and that the Authority can examine any case as long as there is no parallel criminal investigation ‘running’. Questions multiplied last Tuesday, when the Authority spoke out again to reject Savvides’s position that everything about the “black van” case had already been investigated. It made clear, pointing back to that same meeting at the Law Office, that its investigation was also meant to cover matters the prosecuting authorities had not previously looked into, including a possible incompatibility involving Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides. Savvides responded again, standing by his position and citing a letter from the Authority. Background The “black van” case takes its name from a vehicle whose existence came to light through a Forbes advertorial; it was fitted with systems capable of intercepting data from mobile phone users. It has been linked to two Israeli businessmen active in the surveillance industry, Avraham Shahak Avni and Tal Dilian, both of whom had extensive activity in Cyprus. The original criminal investigation resulted in a fine for a company linked to Dilian’s interests. Avni and Dilian later both featured in the Predator spyware case in Greece, whose first victims were journalist Thanasis Koukakis and PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis; Dilian was convicted at first instance in Greece, with an appeal still pending. Philenews has previously documented, through a series of reports, a wider pattern of links between Avni, Dilian and Cypriot officials, of which today’s conflict-of-interest allegations involving Angelides form part. Read more: ‘Black van’: Anti-Corruption Authority’s account leaves AG’s version exposed Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Christodoulides, Erhurman meet before Cyprus talks shift to New York No guarantee investors will cover Great Sea Interconnector cost overruns Anastasiades’s law firm sues anti-corruption authority over ‘Mafia State’ report Shots fired at Limassol building linked to Ukrainian businessman (photos) Cyprus signs Bahrain shipping deal, eyes bigger role as East Med bridge As European aid falls, Cyprus boosts its contribution, report finds Storms and hail forecast for Thursday, cooler weekend ahead Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.