Vergas to be transferred to prison

Disgraced former Paphos mayor Savvas Vergas was on Tuesday evening expected to be transferred to the central prisons in Nicosia.

Vergas is serving a six-year jail sentence, having been convicted in February 2015. He was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, corruption and bribery, in connection to the Paphos Sewerage Board (SAPA) scandal.

Since then, Vergas was placed in a witness protection programme after he decided to blow the whistle on those implicated – in addition to himself – in a scam where public funds had been used to pay kickbacks to municipal officials by contractors vying for a piece of the SAPA construction and operation action. Ex officio as Paphos mayor, Vergas had also chaired SAPA.

But not long after the lid was blown on the case, Vergas struck a deal with state prosecutors and exchanged his confession, as well as information on others implicated in the scam, with favourable detention terms, which he was granted in the form of being held outside the central prisons.

Vergas had also expressed fears that his life was in danger.

It’s understood that since his conviction he has been detained at the quarters of the Police Rapid Response Unit (MMAD) in Nicosia reserved for protected witnesses.

Reports said Attorney-general Costas Clerides, having consulted the police, decided that Vergas should now be moved to the central prisons.

Vergas was last month charged in connection with another case, involving the waste management facility at Marathounda, Paphos. He is among 12 persons facing trial in that case.

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