Defence argues Zavrantonas has no case to answer in cocaine trial

Defence lawyer Christos Poutziouris told Nicosia’s Criminal Court on Friday that his client, Giorgos Christodoulou-Zavrantonas , should not be called to answer the case against him. The evidence before the court, he argued, does not justify continuing proceedings.

Zavrantonas is accused of involvement in an alleged operation to traffic 15 kilograms of cocaine . Poutziouris made his argument in written submissions on whether prosecutors have established a prima facie case against his client.

Earlier, prosecutor Vasilis Bisas, representing the Republic, told the court the prosecution did not intend to call any further witnesses. Both Bisas and Poutziouris then filed written arguments addressing whether there is a case for Zavrantonas to answer.

The court will rule on October 16, based on the prosecution’s evidence, on whether a prima facie case has been established. If it finds there is a case to answer, Zavrantonas will be called to respond and his lawyer will call defence witnesses. If not, he will be discharged and released.

Giannis Andreou, known as “Maronas,” gave sworn testimony during earlier proceedings, and that testimony sat at the centre of Poutziouris’s submission. Andreou was initially convicted over the case, but later gave a new statement naming Zavrantonas as the alleged mastermind behind the operation.

Poutziouris cited case law to argue that Andreou’s testimony should not be accepted in the present case at all. Among other points, he said that during the earlier proceedings tied to his own conviction, Andreou had acknowledged facts that directly contradict what he now alleges against Zavrantonas. “The Court does not need to call the accused to make a defence,” Poutziouris said, invoking a traditional Cypriot saying that essentially means the facts don’t add up.

Bisas responded that the issues Poutziouris raised aren’t relevant at this stage, stressing that a prima facie case has been established.

The case dates back to January 2019, when the Anti-Drugs Unit (YKAN) found the drugs in Lakatamia. Giannis Andreou (“Maronas”) and Aristos Kyprianou were convicted over the case in July 2019 and sentenced to 16 and 8 years in prison, respectively.

Andreou’s later testimony naming Zavrantonas led prosecutors to file a case against him. Zavrantonas was convicted on December 12, 2022, and sentenced to 22 years in prison. The Court of Appeal overturned that conviction on May 11, 2026, due to an error in the composition of the trial court, and ordered a retrial.

Nicosia’s Permanent Criminal Court C’, now hearing the retrial, is composed of Lefteris Pantelis, President of the District Court; Marilena Theoklitou, Senior District Judge; and Konstantinos Markos Pasiardis, District Judge.