The regime in the north territories of Cyprus appears to be caught in a new scandal following the publication of an audio recording on social media. In the recording, a businessman who sought to undertake the Kyrenia cable car project, which was originally planned for 2017, is alleged to claim that he paid bribes of £200,000 to the then “minister of transport,” Kemal Durust, and £300,000 to the then UBP party "mp" Unal Ustel.
The recording was published on social media by journalist Serdinç Maypa, who is known for his posts and publications concerning political figures.
According to the audio, the businessman, who is speaking on the phone with Maipas and whose voice is reportedly recorded, says that in order to secure one of the cable car projects in Kyrenia, he contacted the current prime minister of the self-styled regime and then “MP” of Kyrenia from the UBP, Unal Ustel, asking for his support so that the cable car issue would be placed on the “cabinet” agenda.
The caller claims that Ustel told him the matter needed first to be discussed in the “cabinet” and that, for this reason, a bribe would need to be given to the so called minister of transport, Kemal Durust. In this context, he claims to have paid £200,000 as a bribe to latter.
The businessman further claims that, following Ustel’s instructions, he “placed the £200,000 between the seats, where he was sitting".
He then claims that Ustel told him the phrase “from now on you will see us too,” and he states that in total, at three different locations, he paid Ustel £300,000. Finally, the businessman reportedly says that the last £100,000 of the total £300,000 was handed over at a shop that he claims belongs to Ustel, located opposite the “Kyrenia Land Registry office.”
The project
According last year’s statement by the so called deputy pm, Fikri Ataoglu, the cable car route from the area of St George in Kyrenia to St Hilarion Castle was expected to be completed by 2025. As he noted, visitors who wish to reach the castle will be able to use the cable car in addition to the hiking trail.
He also mentioned that two separate cable car projects had previously been announced in Kyrenia, clarifying that for one of them the procedures had already reached the final stage.