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‘Sandy’ case heads to court with 101 charges

Cyprus Mail · 2026-09-16

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: The "Sandy" case, involving defendants Makarios Drousiotis and Kyriaki Kyriakou, is set to be heard in Nicosia District Court with 101 charges filed against them, including forgery and harassment. • Why it matters: The case has attracted significant media attention due to serious allegations of corruption and abuse involving public figures, prompting a thorough investigation and raising concerns about accountability in Cyprus. • What to watch next: The upcoming court hearing will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings and reveal how the court addresses the charges and the findings of the investigation.

**Title: ‘Sandy’ Case Heads to Court with 101 Charges**

The highly publicized "Sandy" case is set to be heard in court on Wednesday, with defendants Makarios Drousiotis and Kyriaki Kyriakou, also known as ‘Sandy’, appearing before the Nicosia District Court. The proceedings aim to refer the case directly to the Nicosia Criminal Court for trial. This marks the first court appearance for both individuals since the completion of a police investigation and the subsequent filing of criminal proceedings by the Legal Service.

The case has garnered significant media attention, particularly following Drousiotis's allegations made in March. At that time, he claimed that various judges, politicians, and business figures were implicated in corruption, blackmail, and the abuse of a minor, allegedly linked to a group he referred to as a Rosicrucian Brotherhood. These serious claims prompted a thorough investigation by law enforcement.

On July 24, 2026, the Attorney-General announced the decision to file criminal charges against Drousiotis and Kyriakou after reviewing evidence submitted by police on June 30. The charge sheet includes a total of 101 counts, which encompass offenses such as forging documents, circulating forged documents, publishing false news, and harassment. The police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Department served the charge sheets to the defendants.

The investigation into the allegations involved collaboration with Europol and a technical unit from the FBI. Their findings, released in June, indicated a lack of credible evidence to support Drousiotis's original claims. Forensic analysis of the messages at the center of the allegations revealed irregular timestamps, leading investigators to conclude that the messages were fabricated using an application designed to generate false conversations. Notably, Kyriakou admitted to creating the disputed messages and identified the application that was used in the process.

As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will address the numerous charges and the implications of the investigation's findings. The upcoming hearing is anticipated to shed further light on the legal proceedings and the evidence that will be presented in court. The public and media will be closely monitoring developments in this high-profile case, which has raised questions about accountability and the integrity of public figures in Cyprus.

Source: Cyprus Mail
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