Senior civil servant received about €280,000 during six and a half years on leave

Nicosia, Cyprus. A senior civil servant received approximately €280,000 while away from work on temporary leave for six and a half years, according to the public service commission’s 2025 annual report. The estimate reflects payments at 75 per cent of his salary throughout the period, with criminal or disciplinary proceedings against him still pending.

Temporary leave decisions

The report records 18 public servants newly placed on temporary leave last year because they faced disciplinary investigations or criminal prosecutions.

Another eight remained absent under earlier decisions: three dating from 2024 and five from previous years. The commission extended their leave pending the completion of their criminal cases.

For nine employees, temporary leave ended during the year. The reasons included investigators finding insufficient evidence for prosecution, the expiry of legal time limits and the completion of proceedings.

Rules governing leave

According to the report, temporary leave serves a preventive purpose rather than constituting disciplinary punishment. The commission may order it on public-interest grounds or while disciplinary inquiries are being conducted.

During an investigation, leave is limited to three months, although a further three months may be authorised. Once prosecution starts, it may continue until the case is finally resolved, including any appeal.

Employees are generally entitled to be heard before a decision. In exceptional circumstances, leave takes effect immediately, and the employee has four working days to submit a written response.

Earlier cases highlighted

The report draws attention to the issue through two previous cases, including that of Michalis Hadjidemetriou, formerly director of the central prisons.

Hadjidemetriou was suspended in December 2008 following the escape from a private hospital of Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, a prisoner serving a life sentence who was known as ‘Al Capone’.

Criminal proceedings began five months afterwards. Three years after that, Hadjidemetriou received a two-month prison sentence.