Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-10-16

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Saturday, October 16, 1999

Axe falls on immigration department

YESTERDAY'S front pages were dominated by the suspension of Immigration Department boss Christodoulos Nicolaides and the department's executive director Nicos Vakanas in connection with investigations into a fake permit scam for cabaret artistes.

Phileleftheros said Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou has suspended the two senior officials after a letter from the Chief of Police informed the minister of the accusations against them and the evidence found.

According to the paper, Nicolaides had reacted by threatening to make revelations "when the time comes," and said that everything was a machination against him.

Christodoulou had said the government would investigate the case in depth, no matter who was involved, Phileleftheros added, though the minister did point out the two officials suspended were innocent until proven guilty.

Politis said police investigators had already began searching through thousands of files of the immigration service in relation with the case.

The paper also reminds its readers that the interior minister had recently taken away some of Nicolaides' powers, because he was the sole decision maker on matters concerning foreigners who come to Cyprus. The Minister, says Politis, is looking into plans for putting checks into place so that top officials will not take decisions by themselves, and without answering to anyone.

Simerini says the fake visa scam is of vast proportions and that the "axe has fallen heavy" on the immigration service with the two suspensions at the top of the department.

The paper says that the government will pursue this case all the way, and that others will be suspended if there is evidence against them. The newspaper also reports on Nicolaides' threat to reveal information, and his claim that there is nothing against him.

Simerini also reports that restaurateur Spyros Solomou from Paralimni reported to police that he had paid £900 to Andreas Tsangarides from Nicosia -- Nicolaides' father in law -- to provide with four foreigners with work permits for him.

Spyros Solomou is the father of Solomos Solomou, who was shot by the Turks in Dherynia in 1996.

Alithia focuses on the allegations made by former Disy member Andreas Tsangarides, that interior ministers have been signing and providing hundreds of permits to foreign women arriving on the island as tourists. Interior Minister Christodoulou has expressed his surprise at Tsangarides' allegations, and added that from the day he assumed duties in the ministry, his policy was not to issue such permits. Alithia also reports on Nicolaides' threats to reveal compromising details about many people.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, says Alithia, had stated that President Glafcos Clerides never had anything to do with cases concerning employment permits of foreigners.

Haravgi reports that even before the police investigations on Pambos Anastassiades had been completed, the interior minister had suspended two high ranking officials of the immigration service, after a suggestion by the Chief of Police.

The newspaper also reports that Tsangarides said members of Disy had been asking him to help them in getting illegal services by talking to Nicolaides.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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