A big court case about corruption is postponed. This case is about the "golden passport" scheme in Cyprus. The Nicosia Criminal Court has delayed the trial. It will now happen more than two years later. The trial was supposed to start last Friday. It includes former minister Marios Demetriades and seven other people. Two companies are also involved.
The judge said the court is very busy. This is why the trial is delayed. The new start date is March 9, 2026. The people involved face many charges. These include bribery and fraud. They are also accused of money laundering. This is about giving Cypriot citizenship unfairly. Foreign investors allegedly got passports for money. The "golden passport" scheme offered EU passports. It stopped because of problems.
The delay gives lawyers more time to talk. Defence lawyers want to speed things up. They want to agree on some facts. This can make the trial shorter. The defence also asked about evidence format. They want to know if documents should be printed or electronic. They also asked for more information about the fraud charge.
A prosecutor said they are open to agreeing on facts. However, everyone must agree. It might be difficult to give all evidence documents early. This is because some papers might be missed. The case is very large and complex.
The delay means the trial will start much later. It gives both sides more time to prepare. The defence wants to work together to make the trial smoother. The result of this case will affect how people see the "golden passport" scheme. It will also impact Cyprus's image. The longer wait might help ensure a fair trial.