Controversial MP Andreas Themistocleous has been informed by state prosecutors that he will need to answer seven charges relating to a string of traffic violations including speeding and disobeying lawfully given orders of law enforcement officers.

Themistocleous will appear in court on March 18 after his parliamentary immunity was previously lifted by the Supreme Court.  The Limassol MP for ruling party Disy sits on the House committees for defence and institutions and is also currently the deputy chairman of the House Education Committee.

MPs in Cyprus have parliamentary immunity but they can be lifted should they be deemed warranted by the Supreme Court. Attorney General Costas Clerides is in the process of reviewing a draft proposal from Disy that aims to amend laws concerning politicians and MPs defended by immunity so that they can be more easily prosecuted.

Prosecutors say Themistocleous had been clocked doing an alarming 141km/h, 170km/h and 190km/h on the motorway and that he had also ignored orders from a traffic police officer.

The charges Themistocleous faces are:
1) On April 4, 2015, the defendant exceeded the legal speed limit by 72km/h
2) On February 12, 2015, the defendant exceeded the legal speed limit by 70km/h
3) On October 31, 2015, the defendant exceeded the legal speed limit by 90km/h
4) On October 14, 2014, the defendant exceeded the legal speed limit by 41km/h
5) On July 29, 2014, the defendant exceeded the legal speed limit by 51km/h
6) On July 10, 2014, the defendant violated a white line
6) On July 10, 2014, the defendant disobeyed a direct order from a law enforcement officer

It is not the first time that Themistocleous has caused controversy.

Last year, Themistocleous took to Facebook to say that Akel MP Irene Charlambidou “is the utmost authority on measuring manhood”.

The two had long-standing spat particularly over matters like racism, discrimination and homophobia for which Charalambidou has regularly attacked Themistocleous and other MPs of attempting “to keep Cyprus in the dark ages”.