Attorney-general seeking ‘my annihilation’ says Michaelides

It has become crystal clear that attorney-general George Savvides “wants to completely annihilate me” auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides told the Supreme Constitutional Court on Tuesday. 

“I feel disappointed and bitter.”

Michaelides took the stand for cross examination in the proceedings put forth by Savvides seeking to have him dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate conduct. 

“I never called the attorney-general corrupt, never insinuated that he is corrupt, nor do I believe he is corrupt,” he said.

Michaelides told the court that when the differences first arose between himself and the attorney-general George Savvides, he believed “it was just institutional differences that sometimes became a crisis.”

Things changed in May 2023 when the Audit Office filed a case to the anti-corruption authority.

This led to direct threats from Savvides, Michaelides said, about his dismissal. 

When the case was eventually filed to the Supreme Constitutional Court, Michaelides said “I never believed the attorney-general could say such things.”

The case referred to Michaelides as lacking any dignity, honour, a man of arrogance that drags individuals and institutions through the mud. 

Michaelides said he first believed the language was an aggressive policy chosen by the lawyers.

But it was not until he heard Savvides take the stand in court that he understood the attorney-general was driven to get rid of him. 

“The picture he painted of me is that I am the worst ever official in the history of the Republic since 1960,” Michaelides claimed.

“It is now clear he is passionately against me. He wants to see me annihilated.” 

The auditor-general conceded that in the past he may have been intense in discussions he had with ministers such as late Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos, but he never passed the acceptable limits. 

During cross examination, Savvides’ lawyer Dinos Kallis was interrupted by the Supreme Constitutional Court president, who called on him to address the auditor-general with due respect and refer to him in polite plural “as he does when speaking to you”.

Michaelides also rejected that popularity was a driving factor in his actions.

The hearing began with the Supreme Constitutional Court rejecting an objection put forth by Savvides’ team regarding evidence submitted for the case. 

During the previous day’s hearing, Savvides’ lawyers argued Michaelides’ 171-page witness statement refers to a case which is still being investigated by the anti-corruption authority.

Court decided the evidence would be accepted but names redacted.

The evidence pertains to an investigation into the deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides’ alleged conflicts of interest, for which former drug squad chief Michalis Katsounotos had been called to the Anti-Corruption Authority to testify.

Katsounotos has refused to answer any questions in the investigation and Savvides has refused to initiate proceedings against him for it.