Kakoullis released as mayor refuses to resign

THE son-in-law of Paralimni Mayor Nicos Vlittis, under investigation for corruption, was yesterday released pending further investigation, police said.
Andreas Kakoullis, 37, was arrested six days ago on suspicion of abuse of authority, bribery of a public official and corruption.

Kakoulis had resigned from his position as municipal engineer position late in October after Vlittis came under fire from other municipal councillors.
Since then, councillors have repeatedly asked for Vlittis’ resignation, but the Paralimni Mayor has refused.

Things turned ugly on Tuesday afternoon, when chairs were thrown during a council meeting at the town’s conference hall.

The meeting had been open to the public and was held to renew the demand for the mayor’s resignation in light of Kakoulis’ arrest.

The morning after found councillors in both camps exchanging bitter accusations about Tuesday’s fracas.

The eight councillors (out of 10) who are against Vlittis yesterday contemplated mass mobilisations to force him to step down.

Meanwhile pro-Vlittis councillor Avraam Moulazimis filed a complaint with the police, claiming he had been beaten by councillor Mimis Joakim, who rejected the allegation.

Joakim said everything had been recorded by television cameras and countered that he would file an official complaint that Vlittis had altered the minutes of various council meetings.

He claimed that councillors had been sent minutes of meetings that had never even happened.

Joakim repeated his call on Vlittis to resign since he no longer enjoyed the trust of the people of Paralimni.

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