The case involving a major scandal over aerial firefighting assets is nearing filing, following the latest developments.
As previously reported, findings by the Police Headquarters’ Criminal Investigation Department revealed practices that have raised serious concerns, with a number of public contracts worth tens of millions of euros allegedly awarded under questionable circumstances to companies indirectly linked to officials of the Forestry Department.
Developments were recorded yesterday in relation to the case. Specifically, an attempt by one of the three public officials under suspicion to secure an annulment order from the Supreme Court has failed.
Attempt to annul
Through his lawyers, the applicant sought to cancel a court warrant issued on March 19, 2025, which allowed Police access (inspection and extraction) to recorded private communications from a mobile phone in his possession.
Central to the legal arguments were screenshots stored on a USB device belonging to another suspect, which contained fragments of private communications.
The applicant argued that this material had already come into Police possession and formed the basis for obtaining the warrant. Therefore, his lawyers claimed, the lower court should not have approved the warrant concerning access to his mobile phone.
Representing the state, Senior Counsel Andreas Aristides and Government Lawyer A Eria Papaloizou countered that the applicant had no legal standing to invoke alleged unlawful access to communications involving a third party.
They argued that the screenshots represented partial excerpts of a conversation in which the applicant did not participate. Furthermore, they noted that if the communication were strictly private, it would have remained within the application (WhatsApp) rather than being recorded and stored externally.
Supreme Court Judge N. Yasemis, in his ruling, stated that the material clearly did not concern the applicant’s own private communication but that of a third party, under unknown circumstances. The Court ultimately rejected the request and awarded €3,000 in costs in favor of the Republic.
Path cleared for prosecution
The rejection of the request is considered a significant development, as Police investigations indicate the suspect’s position is heavily burdened. There is now no apparent obstacle to filing the case.
As previously revealed, the individual is the main suspect and had participated in the Forestry Department body responsible for evaluating and recommending contract awards for aircraft leasing and aviation services.
Investigations showed that several contracts worth tens of millions repeatedly ended up with the same companies. In at least two cases, the official was linked to legal entities that secured public contracts.
It was also reported that the suspect’s mother allegedly participated in a company connected to another entity that was awarded contracts. She has been questioned by Police.
In recent years, three major aircraft leasing tenders worth millions were awarded to the same company, while the suspect sat on the evaluation committee. Further investigations revealed links between that company and another firm where his mother held a position.
In total, eight suspects are under investigation, four individuals, and four legal entities. Authorities are examining more than 30 tenders related to aerial firefighting contracts between 2017 and 2024.
The investigation began following complaints by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou.
Source: Fanis Markidis- Phileleutheros
