A senior Education Ministry official is facing serious allegations as he navigates a sexual harassment trial. Following the Attorney General’s decision to pursue criminal prosecution, the ministry has moved swiftly to place the official on administrative leave.
Upon being informed by police about the prosecution, the Education Ministry’s director general promptly notified the Public Service Commission. In a letter, he outlined the recent developments and requested the commission consider the administrative leave for the official.
In a twist, the official has also submitted a request for early retirement, just months shy of reaching the standard retirement age. This dual approach complicates matters, as the Public Service Commission must now evaluate both the early retirement request and the ministry’s intention to suspend the official.
If the early retirement is granted, the pending administrative leave would become irrelevant. This scenario has precedence in similar cases involving public officials, where the acceptance of retirement requests supersedes the need for administrative suspension.
However, the situation is more complex due to the nature of the charges against him. The official faces two counts: indecent assault against a minor and workplace sexual harassment. The first hearing is set for 30 October at Nicosia District Court.
The allegations stem from two separate police investigations that ultimately converged into a single court case. Initially, a complaint was filed by a woman who alleged that the official assaulted her when she was a minor. A second complaint came to light in 2023 from another Education Ministry colleague.
As the Public Service Commission deliberates, the ramifications of the official’s actions extend beyond his career, impacting the ministry and its reputation. The outcome of the court proceedings will likely influence public perception and policy on handling such serious allegations within government bodies.
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