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Following the continuous statements of government representatives on this issue, we consider it necessary to inform the taxpaying citizen of the following:
(a) On 4.8.On 4.8.2023 we received a complaint with reference to registration numbers of two police cars and that they were illegally used for the transportation of the children of the President of the Republic (PM).
(b) On 9.8.2023 we forwarded the complaint to the Chief of Police with a communication to the then Head of the Presidency Administration. Our letter concluded as follows: "In a recent meeting of the Comptroller General with the Head of Presidency Administration (on 14.7.2023, i.e. before the complaint was received), specific reference was made to this matter and we were given assurances that, these matters of a sensitive nature, are being handled carefully for the protection of the President himself".
(c) On 30.8.2023 we received a reply from the Police with an admission of the facts of the complaint and with reference to a specific Police Order which, according to the Police, was sufficient to justify a violation of the provisions of the relevant Law No. 3(I)/2014 and the Regulations KΔΠ 504/2014. 4.9.2023 concluded as follows: "We note that, should the Police choose to provide protection to the President's children in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of the relevant Regulations, i.e. by boarding them in a service vehicle, our Office will include the matter in the Special Report to be issued shortly for the Police."
(e) The matter was also discussed privately by the Auditor General with the President of the Republic without result.
2. Generally, when our Office has a finding it is recorded in the relevant Report even if in the meantime corrective measures are taken by the auditee. Exceptionally, in this particular case, and realizing the sensitivity of the issue, we had explained that if the illegality was terminated then we would not proceed with any disclosure. However, as long as there is ongoing illegality, it could in no way be covered up. By its very nature, the matter could not be included in a report without explaining what it was about.
3. The illegality concerns only the cars and the related expenditure (fuel and maintenance). These should be borne by the family, not the taxpayer. If security reasons dictate that the cars are driven by a police officer, this is not the responsibility of our department. Exactly the same is done with political leaders. The car and related expenses are borne by them and the policeman acts as a driver.
4. The necessity of making this matter public is confirmed by the relevant reports of the Deputy Government Spokesman on state television yesterday when he referred to the periods when the President is absent abroad and the First Lady decides to accompany him. The distorted notion that the police, at taxpayers' expense, has the obligation to take over parental care is clearly emerging. This proves that the problem is deeper and explains the ruthless, to an insulting degree, attack on the Auditor General by the Government's representatives.
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