Phedonos says Sapa case not over

Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos said on Friday the jail sentences relating to the sewerage board (Sapa) did not mean it was the end of the scandal.

“The circle will close when all the money, which some people embezzled, either as kickbacks, but also the contractors through overpayments or shoddy workmanship, returns to the people,” he said after the announcement of the sentences.

The mayor said Sapa had lodged civil lawsuits against the contractors and will follow them with suits against the civil engineers to reclaim between €12m and €15m in the form of overpayments.

He also suggested that the police should probe further into the issue in search of another circle of people who were involved in setting up the racket.

Without naming names, the mayor said it was not just the seven convicted officials who were involved but there were several others who were also implicated in the scandal.