The processing of the application for Cypriot citizenship of a Vietnamese investor who was wanted in his country for a serious criminal case at the time had continued smoothly despite that fact, Local News reported on Wednesday.
In fact, he was granted Cypriot citizenship even though he had been arrested and remanded in custody by that time.
And this despite the fact that his presence in Cyprus was deemed mandatory before the citizenship could be granted.
The law firm handling his case justified his absence by simply saying it was not possible for him to be in Cyprus those days.
The interior ministry on Wednesday rubbished claims that the state granted citizenship to a Vietnamese investor while he was arrested in custody at his home country.
“The person in question has not been naturalised as a Cypriot citizen,” the interior ministry said in a written statement, notwithstanding reports
It added however, that it granted citizenship to his family, which in 2021 it decided to revoke, without clarifying the reasons.
This is the fourth ‘golden passports’ case the Police have rounded up and handed over the relevant file to the EU-member island’s Legal Service for a review and further instructions.
