Between 2018 and 2021, a diplomat serving at the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in an EU country received a housing allowance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while residing in an apartment owned by his own company and his partner.
According to the report from the Audit Service, this diplomat received a total of €45,000 from September 2018 to September 2021.
It is also noted that based on the complaint, the Ambassador of the Republic at the mentioned Embassy approved a second housing allowance application – submitted for the same apartment due to the implementation of a new Foreign Housing Allowance Scheme effective from 1.1.2021 – while aware of the ownership of the apartment. However, the Audit Service could not confirm the validity of the complaint.
Explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In a letter to the Audit Service, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the Legal Service, following a complaint about the potential commission of criminal offences by the said diplomat for embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, opined that no criminal offence was substantiated, though it left the possibility open for disciplinary offences.
Despite this opinion, the disciplinary investigation did not proceed due to a decision by the competent authority, as noted by the Audit Service, given that the said complaint had been previously investigated within the framework of a criminal investigation which did not substantiate the commission of any criminal offence on this matter.
In letters exchanged between the Audit Service, Legal Service, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, despite the Audit Service identifying and indicating the offences, no investigation into the offence has been conducted.
In conclusion, on the matter, the Audit Service emphasises that the amount of €45,000, which according to its opinion was unlawfully received by the diplomat, should be recovered from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with responsibility falling on the Director-General as the controlling officer of the relevant fund.
