This case goes back to early 2021. It involves a Turkish Cypriot property given to a refugee living in Paphos. The allegations say the then-mayor visited the site with a team and made changes to the building.
A report by Phileleftheros and journalist Fanos Makridis states that the complainant claimed doors were taken off and damages occurred. He says this caused him financial loss. He mentioned these actions happened without his permission and were illegal on his property. During a later meeting, the resident said the mayor talked about “beautification” of the area, but he also mentioned damage repair.
On February 10, 2021, the citizen made an official complaint to the Police about illegal actions and property damage. Related documents show that senior officers and the then-leadership of the Police were informed about this case. Later, a second complaint was made. The resident claimed he felt pressured to drop his first report regarding a planning permit for his property. The Paphos Police Directorate looked into this claim.
After finishing their investigation, the file was sent to the Legal Service. After reviewing the testimony, they classified the case as “Non-Police Matter,” meaning no criminal prosecution would happen.
This decision ended the criminal investigation. However, it raised larger issues about how local authorities handle matters and their relationships with citizens.
