The mother of a Department of Forests official is being questioned in connection with a corruption probe surrounding aircraft leasing contracts. According to reliable sources, she is set to appear at police headquarters today as a controlled person, which suggests she may face potential charges.
This inquiry has gained momentum following reports of alleged kickbacks in the leasing of firefighting aircraft. The woman’s testimony is anticipated to shed light on her relationship with the investigation.
Sources revealed that the official’s mother has ties to a company that collaborated with another firm, which controversially secured contracts worth millions of euros from the government. The forestry official under scrutiny was part of the evaluation committee responsible for assessing tenders for aircraft and pilot services.
Between 2018 and 2024, the same corporate entity received six tenders for pilot services, and the forestry official played a role in these decisions. Investigators have established a direct link between the public servant and the private contractor, noting that the official used a vehicle belonging to the winning company for personal transportation.
The main suspect has also taken legal action, filing for a writ of certiorari at the Supreme Court to challenge a warrant that permitted authorities to access his telecommunications data. This application was registered, and discussions took place in early July, with the court yet to announce its decision.
The investigation currently encompasses eight suspects, including four individuals and four companies. Law enforcement is looking into charges such as bribery, extortion, and corruption, which could lead to prison sentences of up to seven years under Cyprus law. The Crime Detection Department has sought assistance to access the bank accounts of all individuals associated with Forestry Department contracts since 2017, particularly those linked to helicopter and aircraft leasing for firefighting operations.
More than 30 contract bids amounting to tens of millions of euros in the aerial firefighting sector are under scrutiny. A notable recent contract for two firefighting helicopters exceeded €14.5 million, although this particular deal is not part of the current investigation, which focuses on contracts awarded in the previous seven to eight years.
This case originated from an administrative investigation initiated by Agriculture Minister Maria Panagiotou, following a complaint from a competing company. After completing the ministry’s investigation, which was announced on 22 January 2025, the findings were forwarded to the Legal Service and subsequently to law enforcement.
Three forestry officials implicated in the case were placed on administrative leave but returned to their duties on 23 July, reassigned to different departments to prevent any interference with the investigation, as they had reached the maximum six-month leave period allowed for public servants. Police have executed several search warrants, seizing documents and electronic devices, including computers that are currently undergoing forensic examinations.
