**Drousiotis and ‘Sandy’ Face 101 Counts in Criminal Case**
Journalist Makarios Drousiotis and a woman known as “Sandy” are facing serious legal challenges after the attorney-general filed a criminal case against them, encompassing a total of 101 counts. The case is set to be heard in the Nicosia criminal court, as reported by Greek broadcaster ERT News.
The charges against Drousiotis and Sandy include allegations of the preparation and circulation of forged documents, publication of false news, and harassment. Both individuals have already been served with the indictment, which follows a police investigation initiated after Drousiotis made explosive claims during his campaign for parliamentary elections in March.
Drousiotis alleged that a network involving members of the judiciary, politicians, and business figures in both Cyprus and Greece was engaged in corruption and other serious crimes. His statements included grave accusations of sexual abuse of a minor, blackmail, and corruption, as well as claims of a cover-up and connections to the Rosicrucian Brotherhood. These allegations were largely based on information provided by Sandy.
The case gained additional attention in Greece when the newspaper Documento published messages that allegedly implicated Giorgos Mylonakis, a deputy minister to the Greek prime minister. Mylonakis has since dismissed these messages as fabricated and has filed a criminal complaint with the Greek supreme court prosecutor’s office against those he believes are responsible for the dissemination of false information. He has also announced plans to take legal action against Drousiotis.
In the wake of the allegations, police conducted a thorough investigation, which included assistance from Europol and a specialist unit from the FBI. Their findings, released last month, indicated a lack of witness testimony, forensic evidence, or any other objective material to support the claims made by Drousiotis. Investigators concluded that the electronic messages central to the case had been fabricated using a mobile application.
Sandy reportedly admitted to creating the messages and identified the application used to produce the counterfeit conversations. Technical examinations revealed inconsistencies in operating systems, timestamps, and the presentation of the messages, further undermining the credibility of the allegations.
Despite the police findings, Drousiotis has maintained his position, asserting that the investigation is politically motivated and aimed at undermining his involvement in a separate affair referred to as the Mafia State case. Under Cyprus law, both Drousiotis and Sandy are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
As the case progresses, it will be closely monitored by both the public and media, given its implications for political and judicial integrity in Cyprus and Greece. The upcoming court proceedings will likely shed more light on the allegations and the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense.