A total of 50 cases involving unprofessional practices related to certifying officers have been brought before the court, indicating a growing issue that demands immediate action to restore order within the sector.
Loizos Hatzivasileiou, the director of the Ministry of Interior office, during his appearance before the parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, illustrated the chaos prevailing in the sector, highlighting that the certification of the same documents can cost anywhere from €2 to €120, suggesting a lack of consistency and underscoring the urgency for regulatory measures.
On the other hand, Philippos Giapatos, the president of the Certifying Officers Association, argued that ministry officials are unaware of how certifying officers operate and that their practices are undermining the industry to the detriment of citizens.
Giapatos also criticized the removal of the stamp used by certifying officers bearing the emblem of the Republic of Cyprus, stating that this harms Cyprus as the stamp used in the occupied north is currently in circulation.
Disagreement with this move was expressed by the majority of MPs, warning that they would not accept such a change.
Committee President Aristos Damianou suggested that if stamp misuse is identified, the solution lies in prosecuting those responsible rather than abolishing it.
The Ministry’s representative insisted that the Republic of Cyprus emblem is not required to verify the authenticity of a signature. Hatzivasileiou argued that even clerks of certifying officerss used the stamp, and when a crime occurred, it was challenging to determine who had used it.
He further pointed out that if a high school diploma is fake and submitted to a foreign university for admission, someone must be held accountable. Certifying officers claim that they certify the signature on a document, not the authenticity of the document itself, providing a rationale when there is no clear evidence.
Both MPs and Giapatos emphasized that not all certifying officers should be stigmatised based on the actions of a few who do not perform their duties adequately.
Giapatos expressed disagreement with some of the proposed fees by the Ministry of Interior for document certification, stating that certifying officers are not profiteers, as characterized by the ministry.
MP Alexandra Attalidou shared her experience, noting that she paid €150 to certify certain documents and suggesting that the state should find a way to store certified documents to eliminate the need for repeated certification.
Andreas Kitromilides, speaking on behalf of the Union of Cyprus Communities, considered the reinstatement of the right for community leaders to certify documents for their residents a positive development, particularly in communities where certifying officers are not available.
