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Law Commissioner Louiza Christodoulidou Zannetou has been acquitted of charges that she failed to provide a sufficient breathalyzer sample during a police stop earlier this year, ending a case that stirred public debate and raised questions about transparency, due process, and the boundaries of media coverage.
The Nicosia District Court ruled on Monday that Zannetou was not guilty of refusing or avoiding a breathalyzer test, a serious offense under Cyprus’ Road Safety Law, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison or a €10,000 fine.
District Judge Georgia Karamalli found that police failed to carry out the procedure correctly and that it was never proven Zannetou did not make a genuine effort to cooperate during the alcohol test on January 11, 2024.
Case that sparked public scrutiny
The incident dates back to the early hours of January 11, when Zannetou was stopped by police on Konstantinos Paleologos Street in Nicosia. According to a report by Politis newspaper, which did not initially name her, the Law Commissioner allegedly showed a positive reading during a preliminary roadside alcohol test. She was then taken to Strovolos police station for follow-up testing. There, authorities claimed she failed to provide adequate samples during two attempts with the final testing device.
Under police protocol, a person must give two full breath samples within three minutes after arriving at the station. If those are deemed insufficient, the person can be charged with refusal to cooperate.
However, the court found that these procedures were not properly followed and that Zannetou appeared to have made a sincere attempt to comply, a key point that led to her acquittal.
Zannetou responds with transparency and caution
Shortly after the story gained traction in the press and on social media, Zannetou issued a public statement aiming to clear the air. She confirmed her involvement in the incident, stressed that she was with her daughter at a family dinner that evening, and maintained that she fully followed police instructions during the breathalyzer process.
Police investigating source of leak
While the case has now been closed in court, the police did launch a separate administrative investigation to identify who leaked details of the incident to the media, a possible breach of data protection laws.
Although Politis did not name Zannetou in its original article on January 19, her identity became public after she herself acknowledged the events in her written statement. A police officer met with the journalist behind the report, but the reporter invoked journalistic confidentiality.
A broader conversation
Beyond the courtroom, the case has stirred broader conversations around how DUI cases involving public officials are handled and what rights and responsibilities those in positions of power hold.
Zannetou’s acquittal puts an end to this chapter of legal proceedings, but it leaves lingering questions about law enforcement procedures and the balance between public interest and privacy in high-profile cases.
