A total of 3,000 complaints have been filed over the past ten years against community councils for irregularities or non-compliance with procedures.
This information was disclosed before the parliamentary Committee of Public Expenditure Control by the head of the Technical Services of the Audit Office, Ms. Stalo Aristidou.
Twelve cases were referred to the Police, yet investigations commenced in only two instances. The Director-General of the Ministry of Interior corroborated the Audit Office’s findings.
An audit of 32 community councils conducted by the Audit Office highlighted irregularities, from questionable tenders, including the procurement of water meters, to recruitments and general material purchases.
It was noted that awarding contracts or supplies to relatives was not an uncommon occurrence.
Some cases were subject to criminal scrutiny, such as the replacement of water meters in Agios Tychonas, where, according to the Auditor General, the task was delegated to relatives of a Union of Communities official.
Moreover, in Dora, a water pump was purchased from a relative of the community leader, leading to written allegations and the case being brought to court. The Limassol District Court ruled to impose a seven-month suspended sentence, following the community leader of Dora’s admission of the offense of power abuse.
In Kolossi, irregularities were identified in a contest concerning land division for the self-housing of displaced persons. A criminal file was prepared by the Police for prosecution purposes.
Stavrokonnou saw discrepancies in water consumption recordings on cards and the loss of cards, reported by the community leader.
Allegations of financial and other irregularities were also reported by the Paphos District Officer against the president of Tsada’s community council.
