Justice Minister Constantinos Fytiris has submitted a list of more than 10 doctors of various specialties to the Cyprus Medical Association (CyMA), requesting an examination of the thousands of days of sick leave issued to dozens of prison officers since the beginning of the year.
As recently revealed by Politis, a total of 54 prison employees received 5,548 days of sick leave during the first seven months of 2026. The group comprised 38 prison guards, 12 chief prison guards and four officers.
All 54 cases involve employees who were granted more than 42 days of sick leave. As a result, the actual total number of sick-leave days taken across the Prison Department during the first seven months of 2026 is considerably higher than 5,548 days.
Before the Ethics Committee
According to Politis sources, Fytiris' letter to CyMA is dated 29 July 2026, but was only received by the association this week because it was sent by post.
Upon receipt, the matter was immediately referred to CyMA's Ethics Committee, which is expected to review the contents of the letter at one of its upcoming meetings and determine the next steps.
The committee will examine whether the issuance of 5,548 sick-leave days within a seven-month period was justified.
Investigating officer may be appointed
Speaking to Politis, Michalis Anastasiades, chairman of CyMA's Ethics Committee, confirmed receipt of the minister's letter.
He said the matter will be examined at a forthcoming committee meeting.
Anastasiades added that if the review of the evidence indicates a possible disciplinary offence, an investigating officer will be appointed to conduct a formal inquiry.
Fifty-four cases under scrutiny
The Justice Minister has asked CyMA to examine all 54 cases involving prison employees who accumulated a combined 5,548 sick-leave days during the January-July 2026 period.
The objective is to determine whether the doctors who issued the medical certificates acted appropriately.
Prison officers: 729 sick-leave days
Of the eight officers serving in the Prison Department, four recorded:
- 208 days
- 192 days
- 178 days
- 151 days
of sick leave respectively during the first seven months of 2026.
Collectively, the four officers were absent for 729 days because of illness.
In one case, an officer received 208 days of sick leave during a seven-month period that itself contained only 212 calendar days.
Chief prison guards: 1,278 sick-leave days
For 12 chief prison guards, a total of 1,278 days of sick leave was recorded during the first seven months of 2026.
Among them:
- Two individuals recorded 211 and 210 days of sick leave respectively.
- Two others accumulated 172 and 160 days.
Prison guards: 3,541 sick-leave days
For 38 prison guards, a total of 3,541 days of sick leave was recorded between January and July 2026.
This represents an average of approximately 93 days per person over seven months.
In addition:
- 18 of the 38 guards recorded 100 days or more of sick leave.
- Individual cases reached 197 days, 191 days and 162 days respectively.
Suspicious diagnoses
The list submitted to CyMA also includes two doctors who, as previously reported by Politis, are already the subject of a criminal investigation following evidence forwarded by the Audit Office to the Attorney General's Office in March.
According to the Audit Office's special report on the Prison Department, the evidence points to:
"Serious suspicions of collusion between doctors and prison guards."
The findings emerged from sample audits examining prison employees who were absent for prolonged periods ranging from 43 to 229 days annually.
The criminal investigation concerns:
- A general physician/personal doctor
- An orthopaedic specialist
According to the findings, a number of certificates issued by the general physician related to orthopaedic conditions and injuries, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Sprains
- Knee injuries
- Cervical syndrome
Auditors also identified the reverse situation, with the orthopaedic doctor issuing a sick-leave certificate for a prison guard on the grounds of migraine.
Dozens of certificates under examination
The Criminal Investigation Department at Police Headquarters is also examining eight prison guards who submitted dozens of medical certificates from the two doctors under investigation.
One case highlighted in the report concerns a prison guard who was absent:
- 205 days in 2023
- 202 days in 2024
The employee submitted:
- 51 medical certificates in 2023
- 60 medical certificates in 2024
Auditors found that:
- 48 of the 51 certificates in 2023 (94%)
- 57 of the 60 certificates in 2024 (95%)
had been issued by the same two doctors.
According to the Audit Office, the exceptionally high volume of sick leave, the repeated involvement of the two doctors, the absence of recorded visits within the General Healthcare System (GeSY), inconsistencies in dates and discrepancies in diagnoses together create a pattern that raises serious suspicions of possible collusion between doctors and prison guards for the purpose of defrauding the state.
