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By next June, former Volunteer Commissioner Giannakis Giannakis will have received a staggering €76,800 from the state—despite being suspended for allegedly forging his diploma and altering his final high school grades.
Since his suspension in 2021, Giannakis has been receiving 50% of his monthly salary, which originally stood at €4,756 gross. This practice is standard for suspended public employees until a final verdict is reached. However, the prolonged legal proceedings and repeated trial delays have meant that Giannakis continues to receive taxpayer money while facing serious fraud charges.
The Case Against Giannakis
Giannakis' legal troubles began just before the 2021 parliamentary elections when an anonymous complaint questioned the authenticity of his university degree. Following an investigation, the Auditor General informed the Chief of Police that Giannakis not only lacked the claimed degree but had also allegedly forged his high school diploma.
After resigning from his post, Giannakis was formally charged with eight counts of forgery-related offenses, including falsifying an official document and circulating a fraudulent high school diploma. Since then, his trial has been a series of postponements, lawyer resignations, and strategic legal maneuvers that have delayed proceedings for nearly four years.
A Timeline of Delays and Legal Maneuvers
- June 2022: Giannakis pleaded not guilty to all charges.
- October 2022 – December 2024: Multiple delays due to his changing defense team and various legal objections.
- June 2024: Giannakis threatened to report AKEL MP Christos Christofides for calling for an expedited trial, leading to backlash over perceived attempts to silence political figures.
- December 2024 – February 2025: His defense team filed multiple motions, including attempts to disqualify the judge and hold a pre-trial hearing on the validity of witness testimony. All were rejected.
- March 2025: He appeared in court without a lawyer, claiming he was still searching for representation.
Arrest Warrant Issued
On March 24, 2025, the Nicosia District Court finally lost patience. Giannakis failed to appear in court, citing an illness. His lawyer presented a medical certificate, but after questioning the issuing doctor, the judge ruled that the excuse was insufficient. An arrest warrant was issued, and Giannakis was taken into custody pending his next court appearance on April 2.
The drawn-out nature of the case has left Cypriot society frustrated, with many questioning how a suspended official can continue to collect taxpayer money for years without facing justice. With his latest arrest, the courts may now finally push the trial to a conclusion.
