Cabinet green-lights probe into transport chief

THE government on Thursday launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct concerning the head of the road transport department Sotiris Kolettas.

The cabinet has appointed state treasurer Rea Georgiou, to investigate the possibility of disciplinary and other offences being committed by the transport chief.

Sotiris Kolettas had been the focus of weekend reports that alleged he had refused to impose a fine on a bus company because of a special relationship with the outfit.

Last weekend, daily newspaper Politis published a letter from the communications ministry’s audit depart to the permanent secretary, informing him that Kolettas had refused to fine Intercity Buses – even after he was told to so — despite the company repeatedly violating its contract for two and a half years.

Quoting the letter, Politis said Kolettas ignored the minister’s instructions, informing the company that no fine would be imposed.

The audit department’s letter said this was not the first time Kolettas handled the company in question in a favourable manner, according to Politis.

The letter said Kolettas appeared to have a special relationship with the chairman of the board, Xenofon Andreotis.

It did not mention what this relationship is, but Politis alleged it concerned the purchase, by Kolettas, of a villa in Paralimni worth €400,000, from a company in which Andreotis was a shareholder.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.