Cyprus Audit Office reports 26.3 million euros in uncollected legal fees

A report by the Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus revealed that uncollected legal fees owed to the state reached 26.3 million euros by the end of 2024. The majority of this debt, involving 22,717 individuals, is attributed to asylum seekers who initiated legal challenges against the Republic following deportation orders. The audit office noted that the likelihood of recovering these funds is low, as many of these individuals no longer reside in Cyprus. The report highlighted persistent issues regarding the state-provided legal aid system, suggesting it is subject to abuse and lacks effective management. Systematic failures in debt collection were also identified, including delays of up to 10 years in enforcing court orders and inconsistencies in setting repayment terms, such as monthly installments as low as 20 euros. Furthermore, there are significant delays in processing applications for the suspension of warrant executions. The Audit Office called for stronger internal procedures and the implementation of better information systems to manage the high volume of legal cases. It concluded that current organizational structures are insufficient to handle the financial burden imposed by these legal processes.