Some public figures ‘can’t be found’ to pay their fines

MPS were alarmed to see some well-known public figures included on a list of people who have failed to cough up money owed for social insurance and other uncollected fines.

The House Watchdog Committee was looking into the losses suffered by the state through uncollected fines and court summons that haven’t been handed out, when deputies were presented with a list of the debtors’ names by the Justice Ministry’s spokesman.

A quick glance at the list raised eyebrows, especially when it emerged that some of the personalities paid regular visits to House committee meetings, as well as court and have even guested on television shows.  Deputies found it hard to understand how it was considered difficult to find these people, who were regularly in the spotlight.

There were also quite a few people included in the list that come from well-known and wealthy families.

AKEL’s Aristos Aristotelous said it was a scandal. “It is a list that has been kept for years and swept under the carpet,” he said, adding that the discussion had proved there was a serious lack of transparency in the way fines were collected and summons were served.

During the discussion on Tuesday, MPs were told that there are currently 153,783 unpaid fines, amounting to €123.5 million of which €52 million alone was owed to social insurance.

Furthermore, the loss of funds from un-served court summons for 2009 was €25.7 million. There are also €7.6 million worth of unpaid traffic fines.

The Committee heard a series of suggestions on how to improve the situation, with one being to have fines imposed in court to be immediately payable if they are €340 or less. Another suggestion was that there be a discount for anyone who pays up in time, or a hefty fine for late payments.