menelaou acquitted — menelaou acquitted — Marios Menelaou, the former General Director of the Public Natural Gas Company (DEFA), has been acquitted of charges of common assault and threats against a former subordinate. This decision came after a lengthy court session where Menelaou faced approximately ten hours of cross-examination.
The accusations stemmed from a private criminal complaint lodged in March 2023, following a police report made by the complainant on 6 September 2022. The individual, who had been serving as the Coordinator of the Vasilikos project contract, alleged that Menelaou had assaulted and threatened him. Initially, the Attorney General chose not to pursue prosecution, citing public interest reasons.
During the trial, the Nicosia District Court scrutinised the evidence presented by the complainant. The court described his testimony as “excessive” and highlighted substantial contradictions and gaps in the narrative he provided. Notably, the court pointed out that both the complainant and his witnesses seemed to exhibit a vindictive attitude, potentially motivated by their exclusion from a competition.
Specific inconsistencies in the complainant’s account raised doubts about its credibility. For instance, there were discrepancies between his written statement and oral testimony regarding what Menelaou allegedly said and did. Additionally, the complainant’s description of Menelaou “fiddling with the air conditioner whilst enraged” did not resonate as plausible, nor could the alleged threats be substantiated by witnesses.
Menelaou’s testimony, in contrast, was characterised by the court as coherent, calm, and logically consistent. He answered all questions directly, including those concerning the termination of his contract at DEFA. The court noted that his demeanour starkly contrasted with the picture painted by the prosecution’s witnesses.
In its ruling, the court underscored the principle that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, stating that evidence must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Given the unreliability of the prosecution’s testimony, the court concluded that acquittal was the only just outcome.
The court also addressed the nature of the interaction between Menelaou and the complainant. It found that Menelaou acted within the bounds of reasonable self-defence when the complainant allegedly blocked his exit and positioned himself at a close distance. The court dismissed the claim of a threat, interpreting Menelaou’s statement, “You and you are finished,” as not constituting a credible threat that would instil fear.
After the verdict, Menelaou expressed his relief, calling it a “clear vindication” of his character against what he described as unsubstantiated claims. He condemned media reports that had circulated allegations of assault and threats, asserting that the ruling served as a “real bombshell for the baseless claims that saw the light of publicity.” He further noted the significance of the decision, which referenced the complainant’s political affiliations and the involvement of a political figure, suggesting that these aspects added weight to the court’s findings.
