The auditor-general has called on the cabinet to investigate the commissioner of Internal Audit for possible dereliction of duty, as she allegedly did not properly handle allegations of conflict of interest in her department.
Fact: The Audit Office reported the Legal Service to the European Commission and the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (Intosai) due to allegations of threats, revenge, and efforts to remove the auditor general from his post.
The Audit Office criticized the veterinary services for not taking action against illegal livestock farms operating on protected land, specifically mentioning a large unregistered farm in the Chanoutaris Cliffs special protection zone in Paphos.
The Deputy Attorney General has filed a petition to the Supreme Constitutional Court for the dismissal of the Auditor General, according to a statement by the Audit Office. The Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General are accused of trying to eliminate Odysseas Michaelides in retaliation for his highlighting of unethical actions by the Assistant Attorney General.
The head of the national guard expressed concern about potentially sensitive information regarding the military being revealed by the auditor-general, including details about weapons storage depots and the state of munitions. He emphasized the need to conceal such information for security reasons and to avoid creating a sense of insecurity among the population.
– President Nikos Christodoulides received a stipend of €4,128.45 monthly for three months while stationed in Cyprus, despite being originally stationed in Brussels.
– The stipend was not officially approved by the foreign minister, but by the permanent secretary.
– Rent amounting to €45,000 was paid to a diplomat living in his own flat abroad from 2018 to 2021, which was not recovered by the foreign ministry.
Fact: The auditor-general, Odysseas Michaelides, issued a public statement criticizing the opinion given by the Legal Service on government bills dealing with multiple pensions and retirement age, implying that the government was behaving unethically.
Members of the board on the Gaming & Casino Supervision Commission receive special treatment, earning around €800 a month, while others on similar public bodies make €70.
The Audit Service is reviewing a report on the rental history of a warehouse by the Ministry of Health that flooded due to severe weather conditions. Parliament will soon be informed about the report’s contents. The report raises issues regarding the initial cooperation between Pharmaceutical Services and a private individual, but no specific responsibilities have been identified yet. The Audit Service will study the report and send its observations to the Ministry of Health. Additionally, letters have been sent to affected Ministries and state Authorities regarding rented premises without final approval licenses, with a focus on the Ministry of Health in this specific investigation.
A €1.2 billion investment in the development of a port and marina in Larnaca is facing challenges as the state and Kition Ocean Holdings try to prevent a potential fiasco. The President of the Republic is involved in resolving the deadlock, with tensions rising after Kition refused to renew a port guarantee and made accusations against the government. Efforts are being made to find a resolution, with the President meeting with Kition officials and the Larnaca Development Committee convening to address the issues. The project is expected to start in June, and the Audit Service is monitoring the situation closely.