Nicosia, Cyprus. The anti-corruption authority on Monday urged the public to stop filing complaints based solely on reports published by the audit office, saying such submissions often treat report content as established facts and request investigations.
Authority’s request to the public
The authority said that whenever the audit office publishes a report, people “perhaps with good intentions” submit complaints to the authority, regarding as facts the content of those reports and requesting an investigation. It added that members of the public are “establishing themselves as complainants” without having personal knowledge of the facts contained in their complaint.
Limits of the authority’s role
“The authority cannot satisfy such demands,” it said. It added that it has “maintained excellent cooperation” with the audit office, but that “not all audit office reports concern corruption”.
How cases are referred
The authority said that when the audit office identifies corruption issues requiring investigation by competent institutions, it sends them itself, either to the legal service or to the authority. It added that, to date, the audit office has sent many complaints to the authority.
Message on duplication of work
As a result, the authority said, “people do not need to substitute the work of the audit office”.
Will you refrain from filing complaints to the authority based solely on the content of audit office reports?