In a quality piece of sting journalism, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit exposed how a convicted criminal might obtain a European passport in Cyprus - for the right price.
The programme states "The first stage for a criminal to receive a European Passport, is a meeting with the right property agents"
Enter, Sold On Cyprus where Denise and Tony Kay are secretly filmed. "They are part of a specialized team of enablers," says the narrator.
"You'll meet the team" says Tony Kay, "The lawyers, the accountants, the Ministers". Then the undercover journalists are introduced to Andreas Pittadjis of the George F Pittadjis Law Firm and EU passports in any name you require, are soon bragged about.
Much of the media focus today is on the top of 'The Team' where Akel MP Christakis Giovanis and House president Demetris Syllouris appeared ready to help a criminal secure a Cypriot passport. But it's the involvement of Sold of Cyprus and Pittadjis of Paralimni that fascinated me the most!
This was Al Jazeera’s second expose on Cyprus’ investment programme dubbed The Cyprus Papers. The politicians now cry entrapment and accuse Al Jazeera of having ulterior motives.
Tony and Denise Kay say "Cypriot Law would have to be obeyed.." and Andreas Pittadjis is putting forward, that in all the meetings secretly filmed, he was simply trying to catch information to report to the authorities.
This programme is a must-see and so is the commentary on Twitter and Facebook where Pittadjis' countrymen ridicule his posted statement.
Conor
https://youtu.be/Oj18cya_gvwhttps://www.facebook.com/pittadjis/posts/10223202859596935