The House refugee committee on Tuesday called on the labour ministry to investigate claims people are receiving a POW allowance in Cyprus without being eligible.

Committee chair Nikos Kettiros said that from the 832 people who were registered in 2017 on the list for the monthly and annual stipend, the number has now reached 1,240 people, although some of the beneficiaries have passed away in the meantime.

“It is not a minor matter that the number has increased, because some had not applied in previous years to join despite being on the list of POWs and on the Red Cross register, but it appeared that in the following years they had the need to apply because they were retired or low income pensioners, so the number has increased,” he said.

He also added that the committee was presented with specific data on individuals who had infiltrated the state registers and received either an annual or monthly POW honorary allowance without being eligible, or failed to have the necessary certificates.