Defence minister denies link to man arranging army exemptions for cash

Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said on Friday a man on remand for allegedly taking payment to secure boys did not have to do the army was not employed at the ministry.

“I am aware of the matter. I understand that this person was not an employee of the ministry but a collaborator who had some relationship with another person from the ministry 15 years ago,” the minister said.

“The case is under police investigation, and we are waiting for the results,” he added.

The man was remanded for eight days by the Nicosia district court on Thursday. The charge being looked into against him is fraud by false representation.

According to Politis, the suspect scammed two families out of €14,000 by promising to secure military exemptions for their sons.

One of the two cases was taken before a court-martial as one of the boys had failed to show up for his military service as he was under the impression that he had secured an exemption.

When the case was heard, the suspect allegedly asked for extra money to acquit the young man from the charges he was facing.

When the families realised they were being scammed, they reported the matter to the defence ministry which then involved the police.

Information brought before the defence ministry also indicates the suspect was promising exemptions to athletes as well.