This week, the prominent trial concerning Cyprus’ infamous ‘golden passports’ program, unearthed by an investigative report, has resumed as legal proceedings continue against two former Cypriot parliament members entwined in the controversy.

On Tuesday, the courtroom concentrated on reviewing digital communications pertinent to the matter. Former House President Demetris Syllouris and former Akel MP Christakis Giovani face serious allegations of conspiring to undermine the state and exerting improper influence on public officials, in violation of the nation’s anti-corruption statutes.

A law enforcement officer from the cybercrime unit delivered additional testimony, guided by state prosecutor Charis Karaolidou. The officer was tasked with identifying and presenting specific electronic correspondences discovered on the computer of Tony Kay, a real estate agent featured prominently in a revealing documentary.

The computer had been submitted previously as evidence in the case. The court highlighted eight emails authored by Kay, which were sent to various individuals embroiled in the scandal. Recipients included his spouse, Denise Kay, attorney Andreas Pittadjis—who has since been cleared of accusations—Antonis Antoniou, who managed operations at Giovani’s real estate firm, and Giovani himself.

The email subjects suggested extensive collaboration and international engagements, with titles such as “Visit to Hong Kong,” “Meeting in London,” “Due diligence for Nikolai,” and “Issues relating to Hong Kong.”

In cross-examination, defense attorney Christos Triantafyllides inquired whether the witness had any personal interactions with the individuals involved or direct connections to Cyprus’ investment program. The officer confirmed he had not but explained that he collaborated with “specialized personnel” to retrieve pertinent digital evidence during the investigation.

The exposé, aired in October 2020, showcased undercover journalists pretending to be agents for a fake Chinese businessman with a criminal past, who sought Cypriot citizenship. The footage depicted Syllouris, Giovani, and others expressing a willingness to facilitate obtaining a passport despite the alleged criminal history.

The investigative piece received a bronze accolade at the New York TV & Film Awards in 2021.

After the exposé, there was immediate fallout. The politicians involved resigned, and the Cypriot government discontinued its citizenship-by-investment scheme in November 2020. Subsequently, the European Union initiated legal proceedings, condemning the program for allowing the sale of EU passports to questionable individuals.

Former Supreme Court Judge Myron Nikolatos delivered a scathing report on the program in 2021, disclosing that over half of the 6,799 granted citizenships were issued unlawfully, with numerous others facing deficiencies.

To date, 304 individuals, including 88 investors and 216 family members, have had their Cypriot citizenship revoked or are in the process of losing it due to fraud, false representation, or severe criminal accusations.