Volt has reaffirmed its support for parliamentary candidate Makarios Drousiotis, amidst growing scrutiny surrounding the controversial ‘Sandy’ case. In a statement released on Friday, the party’s co-chairman Panos Parras categorically denied any claims of distancing from Drousiotis, asserting their unwavering stance for transparency and a thorough investigation.
The situation escalated following allegations made by Drousiotis concerning a 45-year-old woman, referred to as ‘Sandy’, which implicated various senior judicial and political figures. These claims have been met with backlash as police investigations reveal contradicting findings.
Recent police data submitted in a sworn affidavit indicated that Sandy was not employed at the presidential palace at any point since 2023, directly challenging a pivotal assertion made by Drousiotis. Investigators have confirmed through social insurance records and statements from previous employers that she was employed at a private shop in Nicosia during the relevant period, with evidence of continuous work in Cyprus dating back to 2001.
In addition to employment verification, the investigation has delved into Drousiotis’s claims of Sandy’s travels to Germany. He produced an audio recording purportedly documenting her departure from Cyprus, in which a female voice mentions leaving with her son and a baby. However, police have stated that available data does not support claims of her prolonged absence from Cyprus, raising questions about the validity of Drousiotis’s narrative.
As the inquiry unfolds, the authenticity of the digital material linked to the case has also come under fire. With hundreds of messages and various forms of evidence presented, lawyer Nikos Clerides, who recently represented Sandy, stated, “we are talking about 400 messages. When someone sees them, there is no way they would think they are fake.” Yet forensic analysis revealed that applications capable of generating fabricated messages had been downloaded shortly before Drousiotis made his claims.
In her statements to police, Sandy expressed concerns that the messages were fabricated, acknowledging her impulsive actions. Investigators have approached her claims with caution, ongoing assessments of the evidence’s credibility. Furthermore, visual material intended to support Drousiotis’s allegations has been scrutinised, with one photograph alleged to show a knife wound traced back to a German website from 2022.
Drousiotis insists that the materials he released constitute a comprehensive body of evidence submitted to authorities, which includes over 130 messages and audio files. He has accused the government of attempting to undermine him personally, asserting that the focus should remain on investigating the serious allegations at hand.
As the police continue their investigation, they are exploring 12 potential offences, including forgery, circulation of false documents, and money laundering. Police chief Themistos Arnaoutis emphasised the investigative approach is not designed to validate any specific narrative but rather to uncover the truth, highlighting that “no person is above the law.”
The situation has prompted Volt to clarify its position, stressing that no internal discussions regarding Drousiotis’s removal from the electoral list have taken place. The party expressed concern over the societal impact of the ongoing developments and called for a comprehensive investigation without pre-empting conclusions.
With contrasting narratives emerging from various parties, Drousiotis has alleged the existence of an organised ‘Rosicrucian Brotherhood’ involving public officials, while others named in his allegations vehemently deny any wrongdoing. Former judge Michalakis Christodoulou acknowledged knowing Sandy but rejected all accusations against him, asserting that “everything that has been published is a lie.”
