Police have began checks at cross points in Nicosia in a bid to stop people – owing money to the state – from crossing over to the Turkish occupied north.
According to Nicosia Police Chief Kypros Michaelides, many people continue to cross over into the north to gamble in casinos despite owing thousands in state dues in taxes, social insurance and court fines. This week, police officers set up blocks at the check points in the island’s capital to check on people, currently on the police list of those owing large sums to the state, attempting to cross over to gamble.

“A total of 20 people were discovered during those checks who were found to have warrants against them for failing to pay state dues”, commented Michaelides. “Out of that number, 16 paid straight away and were released while four of them didn’t pay and were arrested on site and escorted to Nicosia Central Prisons”.
He added that “around €50,000” was paid by those 16 persons at the checkpoints.
Michaelides went on to say that inspections will continue and that warrants still remain for many people also owing money to the state.
In a recent parliamentary session, it was heard that around 100,000 warrants are still out for people owing a total of around €300million in state dues.

Cyprus Weekly