Auditor-general takes stand in third day of cross-examination

Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides is “living the consequences” of the attorney-general’s threats to have him fired with the ongoing case before the Supreme Constitutional Court, he said on Tuesday.

On his third day of cross-examination, Michaelides rejected allegations that he had accused the legal service of corruption.

He stressed there had been no ill will behind sending a case to the anti-corruption authority which involved deputy AG Savvas Angelides. Rather, he received an anonymous complaint, forwarded it on and confirmed it to the press when asked.

“At no point did I ever accuse Angelides of committing a crime.”

Michaelides told the court that the anti-corruption authority had identified a conflict of interest with Angelides but rather than focus on that, AG George Savvides drilled down on Michaelides and made statements about a process to have him dismissed.

The hearing is part of the case filed by the AG seeking to have Michaelides dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate conduct.