The Interior Ministry’s director general, Ellikos Elia, confirmed yesterday that an investigation is underway into the management of Turkish Cypriot properties in Paphos, following weekend revelations in Phileleftheros.
Elia declined to comment on details, telling the Cyprus News Agency the investigation is ongoing against the mayor and “any statement concerning details is not appropriate.”
The ministry said on Friday that “all contracts with Paphos Municipality are being checked by a Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service team in Paphos for on-site inspection.”
Phileleftheros revealed that a property in Mouttalos was subleased to a private individual despite Legal Service opinions explicitly forbidding this. Police discovered the illegality during an investigation with the Audit Office following a complaint filed to Paphos TAE in April 2022.
The investigative file was sent to the Attorney General on 13 January, who will decide on next steps.
Investigators found the property was illegally subleased by Paphos Municipality to a private individual for a café-restaurant. The Legal Service had explicitly stated that Turkish Cypriot property cannot be subleased. The café-restaurant had no planning or other permits.
Elia told CNA the ministry is conducting sample checks of Turkish Cypriot property contracts across Cyprus, not just in Paphos. The checks aim to flag any contracts that breach regulations.
He said the ministry is making a “huge effort to rationalise management of Turkish Cypriot properties generally.” He pointed to previous work in the Mackenzie area, where a “series of problems were solved with leases” and “some rents were very low and we have revised them.”
Elia added that “in that framework some checks can be done in Paphos,” noting that an administrative investigation was done previously on Turkish Cypriot property management.
The criminal investigation targets suspended Paphos mayor Phedon Phedonos and a senior municipal official. Phedonos denied any wrongdoing in statements on Friday, claiming everything was done legally in consultation with the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties.
But investigators found the Custodian broke the law by removing the clause that banned subleasing from the lease contract to the municipality.
Phedonos said he got both permits from the custodian, the private individual paid for the extension, and the custodian signed off on the plans needed for the planning permit.
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