More than 550 public servants have been removed from their posts this year as being found to have committed criminal or disciplinary offenses. According to the Administrative Reform Ministry, a total of 562 public employees have been dismissed this year, a number that reflects a substantial increase on last year, when 218 were fired for committing offenses, and 133 in 2012.
“The results so far show that problems such as forged certificates and illegal hiring do exist”, admits Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “However”, he added, “we have also proved that with political will and correct planning the problem can be solved”.
The ministry listed a number of cases most heavy, which included the municipal employee who transferred 578,035 euros of local authority funds into his personal account via an electronic banking system and a ministry employee who was absent from work for 944 days, while lacking any medical or other reason.