Filenews 28 April 2023
For years, state agencies turned a blind eye to the theft of catalytic converters committed against private individuals and the state, which did not even collect taxes from those who hoarded illegally, and when the issue took on dimensions, "flash bangs" were taken to dispel the impression.
It is worth noting that when the license of only one company was suspended, complaints fell from 568 to 54.
During yesterday's meeting of the parliamentary committee on transport, its chairman Marinos Mousiouttas, commenting on relevant complaints by a catalyst recycler, requested a report from the services involved within one month. He also pointed out that raising the issue in Parliament contributed to the acceleration of control procedures and reduction of the problem of catalytic converter theft.
On behalf of a recycling company, Zachariades said that about eight out of ten vehicles driven for recycling do not have catalytic converters, without specifying what happened to them.
The reduction in catalytic converter thefts that has been reported to the Commission is minimal and does not correspond to reality, he said. He cited an internet application in which the codes of catalysts and their value are recorded, something that the state can use for control purposes. He also complained that there is a company deleted from 2016 that buys catalytic converters and issues receipts, some of which he owns, he said.
Furthermore, he said that a company that operates in catalysts and owes the Tax Department a huge amount, terminated the activity before it was written off, and now acts as a new company with an identical name.
She also said that in Limassol a company bought catalytic converters and issued a receipt from another company that provided coverage. According to him, in Larnaca a European citizen bought catalysts and when the Department of Environment contacted a company that operates legally, it reported that the catalysts were purchased on its behalf. He wondered whether it had been examined whether he was an employee of the registered company, whether receipts had been issued and, in general, whether a legality check had been carried out. At the same time, he wondered if this citizen pays social security or if he is a recipient of assistance from the state.
He also referred to a police statement on the arrest of a person in whose possession 140 catalytic converters were found and wondered if the Department of Environment had been informed so that a fine could be imposed. This person was released and fled abroad. "I wonder if the issue of theft for the buyer of the catalytic converters was considered," he said.
At this point, MP Chrysanthos Savvides intervened and indicated that what is reported concerns criminal offenses that must be examined by the Police.
MP Zacharias Koulias said there are nuggets of precious metals in catalysts that are sent for export and criticized Customs for incomplete control.
MP Stavros Papadouris, who included the issue for discussion, expressed disappointment that six months after the first discussion of the issue, no substantial measures were taken to eliminate or even reduce the phenomenon of catalytic converter theft.
He also said that catalysts to be exported are not checked when they are shipped to an EU country, so there is virtually no control. I am sorry but in this Chamber we are fooling," he said.
Finally, MP Chrysanthos Savvides said that since 2020, 1,638 vehicles have been stolen, which end up in the occupied areas through the Green Line.
