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The Attorney General of Cyprus, George Savvides, has released a report from a Three-Member Investigative Committee examining the distribution and recall of vehicles equipped with defective Takata airbags in Cyprus. The report, covering 2013 to 2023, has been sent to the Chief of Police for criminal investigation and to the Council of Ministers for possible disciplinary action.
The committee found serious failures by the Department of Road Transport (TOM), which transferred its duties to third parties and ignored multiple warnings about the airbags. Despite numerous alerts from the Consumer Protection Service and citizens, TOM and successive Ministers of Transport did not take sufficient action or inform the public.
The report identifies possible criminal offenses including manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm, and abuse of power, connected to two deaths and one serious injury caused by airbag explosions. It assigns political responsibility to the ministers for inaction and failure to ensure effective communication within their departments.
Civil servants also faced criticism for neglect and lack of cooperation, and the Road Safety Council was found to be ineffective in addressing prevention measures.
The Attorney General will decide whether to pursue criminal charges. The report stresses the need for accountability and improved governance to protect public safety.
Read the full report (in Greek) HERE.
