Woman arrested in north scandal handed public sector job

Meray Durust, who was arrested as part of investigations into the north’s “fake diploma scandal”, has begun work in a new public sector role.

Durust was arrested alongside her husband and former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust last month, accused of having falsely obtained a degree from the now-infamous Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU).

She was later released on bail and was also sacked from her position as director of the north’s ‘labour ministry’.

However, as ‘labour minister’ Sadik Gardiyanoglu explained on Kibris Postasi TV on Wednesday, her sacking from his ‘ministry’ and the ongoing case against her did not spell the end of her public sector career.

In fact, as he explained, “bureaucrats relieved of their duties return to their former duties, and Durust, who served as a civil servant in the Morphou District Governor’s office, has returned there to continue in her old position.”

This infuriated former negotiator for the Cyprus problem Kudret Ozersay, who wrote in a post on Facebook that those under police investigation should be “removed from public duty”.

“They have only taken those who are currently under police investigation out of the top-level managers’ offices, but they are still keeping them as public officials,” he said.

“In summary, these people are being done a favour when they should actually be temporarily suspended from public duty.”