Criminal probe launched into tax file theft in Cyprus

Cypriot authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into a senior official at the Tax Department following allegations of illegal possession and potential extraction of confidential tax files. The case emerged after Tax Commissioner Sotiris Markides reported the incident to the Attorney General, confirming that the official held sensitive documents belonging to high-profile business figures and a former President of the Republic.

The documents in question were allegedly used by the official to support complaints she filed with the Independent Authority Against Corruption regarding alleged departmental mismanagement and retaliatory transfers. A team of three appointed lawyer-inspectors conducted an investigation into these claims, ultimately concluding that all allegations made by the official were entirely unfounded. The ongoing criminal probe is now focused on determining whether the sensitive data was stolen for the purposes of blackmail, public defamation, or unauthorized dissemination.

This incident has raised significant alarms regarding data security and privacy protocols within the civil service. Legal proceedings are currently underway to establish the full extent of the data breach and to identify the responsibilities of those involved in the unauthorized handling of sensitive taxpayer information.