Developments are expected this week regarding an education ministry official charged with indecent assault against a minor and sexual harassment in the workplace, as the Public Service Commission advances his suspension whilst he requests early retirement.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports requested the Public Service Commission place the official on availability after police informed them criminal proceedings had been initiated against him with charges relating to indecent assault and workplace sexual harassment.
Simultaneously, the official submitted his own letter to the Public Service Commission requesting early retirement, as he is already approaching retirement age.
The Public Service Commission decided to advance the availability request and sent him a letter informing him of the request and asking for his response regarding removal from his duties.
The official has until Wednesday to respond, when the commission will make its decisions.
The affected individual is expected to argue that accepting his early retirement application would be more beneficial to the public service than placing him on availability, since he would receive half his salary whilst on availability status.
However, one parameter is estimated to influence the decision. If the ministry official is placed on availability, the Public Service Commission has authority to impose additional sanctions on his retirement benefits following any conviction, if deemed necessary. This presupposes a conviction.
The individual is currently away from the education ministry on leave he requested. Criminal charges were filed against him last week before Nicosia District Court.
The indictment includes two charges: alleged indecent assault against a minor (as the complainant was under 16 years old at the time of the alleged offence) and sexual harassment in the workplace.
The indictment has been served on the accused, with the first hearing scheduled for 30 October.
Police initially investigated a complaint from a female educator who reported an indecent assault from the accused whilst she was a minor.
Whilst the complaint was investigated by the Police Vulnerable Persons Management Subdivision and the file was forwarded to the Law Office with specific recommendations, new complaints emerged against the same person from education ministry employees who were his subordinates.
The investigation was completed and authorities decided prosecution could proceed about the one employee, leading to both cases being filed under the same indictment.
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