MP calls for investigation into alleged exploitation of Turkish Cypriot property

Nicosia, Cyprus. House refugee committee chair and Akel MP Nikos Kettiros on Monday called for an investigation into allegations that a doctor working in Germany holds and exploits large areas of Turkish Cypriot property.

Allegations raised

Kettiros said a complaint had recently been brought to him concerning the doctor, who is not a Greek Cypriot refugee and is alleged to farm the land and receive agricultural subsidies.

He said the complaint also concerned the doctor’s father, a civil servant who allegedly manages the property.

“This is unacceptable and must be investigated now,” Kettiros said, adding that he could provide the location of the land to the competent services.

Calls for stronger controls

Kettiros said complaints had repeatedly arisen over the management of Turkish Cypriot properties and warned that inadequate and inconsistent controls could allow individuals to exploit the system.

The committee also heard complaints that some beneficiaries receive preferential treatment in the allocation of repairs, while others wait two or three years.

Kettiros called for a transparent, digitalised system allowing applicants to see when their requests were submitted and when repairs were scheduled.

Repair and allocation proposals

Disy MP George Lysandrides said the service faced difficulties recruiting technicians and called for greater use of private contractors to speed up repairs.

He also called for the unit prices used to calculate repair works to be increased to reflect current costs.

Diko MP Adamos Aspris called for an increase in the service’s budget and for property inspections to be expedited so that suitable homes could be identified and allocated to beneficiaries.