In Cyprus, unpaid fines amount to 300 million euros

Since 1980, nearly 300,000 fines have accumulated in Cyprus. The total debt amounts to around 300 million euros, of which 256 million euros were supposed to go to the state treasury.

According to local media reports, the Ministry of Justice informed lawmakers about these figures on Friday. According to the ministry, the number of uncollected fines from 1980 to the present day is 293,150, equivalent to 300,211,453 euros.

However, around 252 fines totaling 277,852 euros will never be collected because the individuals who owed this money have already passed away. Additionally, fines totaling 166,310 euros belong to 76 companies that have declared bankruptcy in the last 43 years.

Of the total amount, 256,536,949 euros are related to civil debts owed to municipal authorities, the now-defunct Cyprus Tourism Organization, social insurance, the Department of Water Management, income tax, fines for criminal offenses, fines from military courts, and traffic violations, with the last category having 105,737 individuals in arrears.

Municipal authorities are currently reviewing 51,327 fines totaling 18 million euros and other offenses amounting to 35 million euros from 48,793 cases.

According to the data, the remaining 43 million euros are classified as hopeless fines imposed within private criminal proceedings and alimony.

Out of the total of 300 million euros, around 192 million euros, or 261,397 fines, are attributed to fines imposed on individuals, and approximately 109 million euros are owed by legal entities.