Irregularities found in 1974 prisoner of war allowance payments

Following an investigation by the Audit Office, the Pancyprian Association of 1974 Prisoners of War revealed that approximately 15 members were removed from its registry for failing to appear on official International Red Cross records. The Audit Office identified at least 130 individuals receiving an annual honorary allowance of €2,000 despite lacking verification of their prisoner status in military or Red Cross registers. Among the questionable cases, some were found to be deserters who failed to report for duty during the 1974 Turkish invasion and later secured false prisoner certifications to avoid court-martial or to claim benefits.

During hearings before the House Refugees Committee, Association President Vasos Christou alleged that political figures had facilitated these fraudulent registrations years ago. While MP Zacharias Koulias suggested that some genuine prisoners might be missing from registers due to the chaotic conditions of the occupation, auditors noted that supporting records for many later entries have been destroyed. The committee has urged the Association to report these findings to the police for formal criminal investigation, while officials explore potential recovery of improperly paid funds.