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Former Larnaca mayor to spend 5 years in jail for corruption

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Former Larnaca mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis was convicted to five years of prison time on Wednesday after he, three state officials and private company Helector were found guilty in February of corruption in a case concerning the operation of two waste management plants — one in Larnaca and one in Paphos.

The sentencing was delivered by the Nicosia Criminal Court and is as follows:

Defendant 1, Demetris Patsalides (financial controller of Paphos municipality): 3, 1.5, 1 and 5 years in jail (concurrent)

Defendant 2, Michalis Pantis (town planning department engineer at Paphos municipality): 18 months in jail

Defendant 6, Andreas Louroudjiatis (former Larnaca mayor): 5 years in jail

Defendant 7, Giorgos Koullapis (former town planning department engineer at Paphos municipality): 3.5 years in jail

Helector Cyprus Ltd: Monetary penalties with the largest set at €60,000.

The sentences are effective as of February 7.

As per the decision read in court, Patsalides was bribed with €124,000 by Helector and Louroudjiatis with €138,000.

Helector Cyprus Ltd was found guilty on 19 counts. The judge said that Helector bribed Paphos and Larnaca municipal officials in order to expedite invoicing procedures pertaining to the Larnaca and Paphos waste management plants.

The court added that it took into account the fact that everyone found guilty had a clear criminal record, and also factored in the sentences handed down to other defendants in the case.

The criminal court also ordered the confiscation of income valued at €372,600 from those found guilty.

The defendants were found guilty for the crimes of conspiracy, illicit enrichment of a public official, bribery, preferential treatment by public officials, abuse of power and legalisation of illicit income.

The defence of the accused said they would appeal the criminal court’s decision before the Supreme Court.

Helector, the operator of the two landfills – one at Marathounda, Paphos, the other at Koshi, Larnaca – was accused of overcharging municipalities by reporting higher waste volumes while public officials looked the other way in return for commissions.

Read more:

https://in-cyprus.com/assize-court-finds-ex-larnaca-mayor-three-state-officials-private-company-guilty/

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