MVP

Tag: Nicosia District Court

  • Duty-free cigarettes — Large Seizure of Duty-Free Cigarettes in Athienou

    Duty-free cigarettes — Large Seizure of Duty-Free Cigarettes in Athienou

    A total of 6,400 boxes of duty-free cigarettes were seized in the Athienou-Lypmia area on Thursday, marking a significant enforcement action by local customs officials.

    • A total of 6,400 boxes of duty-free cigarettes were seized in the Athienou-Lypmia area on Thursday, marking a significant enforcement action by local customs officials.
    • The customs department announced that the seizure, valued at over €380,000 in unpaid duties, occurred during a routine search of a rental vehicle driven by a 51-year-old man.

    The customs department announced that the seizure, valued at over €380,000 in unpaid duties, occurred during a routine search of a rental vehicle driven by a 51-year-old man.

    Authorities discovered the tobacco products in the vehicle, each box containing 200 cigarettes. Alarmingly, the packs did not display the mandatory health warnings in Greek and Turkish, nor did they possess the unique traceability codes required for all cigarettes sold within the European Union.

    Following the discovery, the driver was arrested on charges related to the illegal transport of tobacco products. He is scheduled to appear before the Nicosia District Court on Friday to face the charges. Customs authorities have indicated that investigations into the case will continue as they seek to understand the broader implications of this seizure.

  • Sexual harassment — Education Ministry Official Seeks Early Retirement Amid Sexual Harassment Trial

    Sexual harassment — Education Ministry Official Seeks Early Retirement Amid Sexual Harassment Trial

    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.