Filenews 3 May 2025
Pirate taxi drivers without any license and legality are prosecuted for their illegal activity, but they escape it in the absence of witness.
In fact, criminal investigators promote cases for registration without, however, ensuring the most important thing: the testimony from the client of the defendants, to whom the transportation services are offered.
Fatally, cases fall to the Courts and the "pirates" can continue to illegalize undisturbed.
What we have just recorded, which raises reasonable questions, is not merely a product of information. They are recorded in documents and in particular correspondence between the Legal Service and the Cyprus Police.
Through the written positions that have been exchanged between the two sides and which are brought to light today by "F", it becomes clear that the way in which many such cases are handled falls before the Court and consequently the phenomenon continues to exist.
How it came to the surface
The whole issue was dealt with by the Legal Service last March, on the occasion of a request by a defendant for a case of illegal use of a motor vehicle for the transport of passengers for a fee.
A lawyer of the Republic who was assigned the handling of the matter drafted a note and sent it to the Police, pointing out these gaps in the investigative work.
In its note (14/3) that was transmitted to the Police, it is stated that a number of such cases, i.e. concerning the offence of using a motor vehicle for remuneration, are registered in the District Courts of Pancypria.
It states, however, that a "thorough check" should be carried out before the investigator of the case/police investigator recommends criminal prosecution of the suspect.
And after first invoking case law of 1971, he explains that the issue on the basis of this is that during the investigative work an attempt is made to demonstrate that the transport of the passenger by a pirate taxi driver has a commercial or business character.
He then records the obvious. That this cannot be proven without the testimony of the passengers, who give an affidavit about the case and say the obvious, that they paid a fee for their transportation.
Not to be registered
The lawyer of the Republic, who signs this note, records the position that if the passenger is not located in order to give evidence, the case should not be forwarded by the Police for criminal prosecution. He adds that without this testimony, the risk of dismissal of the case due to the impossibility of proof would be visible.
It is obvious that the submission of a request to the Attorney General for the suspension of the criminal prosecution of an accused for a related case, which was also the reason for the examination of the issue by the Legal Service, was submitted on the same basis. That is, that there was insufficient evidence with which the case against the accused person could be proven.
In mid-April, the Police
The Police, on the basis of the above guidance, informed its members about this, through the provincial police departments, in the middle of last month. A competent officer, after first recording the parameters pointed out by the Legal Service, concludes by urging the police officers not to promote any case for criminal prosecution unless a testimony from the passenger is secured.
The final decision
As is well known, when the criminal investigation of a case by a police investigator is completed, then the relevant file with the examiner's recommendation is forwarded to the Legal Service. The Attorney General, after all, is the one who has the final say on whether or not to prosecute a criminal case.
Continuous protests by professional taxi drivers
- Five out of seven taxis are illegal, according to testimony given in Parliament last month
According to the Traffic Transport Regulation Act of 1982 (9/1982), road licences for the carriage of passengers are granted "for the carriage of passengers in a hired urban or rural taxi" and "for the carriage of passengers by intercity taxi at a fare per passenger".
Professional taxi drivers have always referred to "piracy", referring mainly to the illegal provision of taxi services by individuals or companies that do not have the necessary license.
Often unlicensed vehicles or drivers (without a professional license or insurance) carry passengers for a fee.
In addition, professionals complain that people use private cars to transport tourists or locals, often through platforms or social networks.
There is also talk of foreign companies or platforms operating outside the regulatory framework, competing with legal taxi drivers without paying taxes or fees.
Legal taxi drivers have at times protested through various means, with the obvious argument that this illegal activity affects their turnover.
As they often say, unfair competition is created, explaining that they face strict controls and that they have costs in maintaining their profession, while the "pirates" operate uncontrollably.
At the same time, they pose a risk to the safety of passengers, since illegal drivers are not adequately controlled or insured.
On April 10
Indicative of what we mentioned above is what was heard in the parliamentary committee on transport on April 10. A representative of the taxi drivers told the MPs-members of the committee that five out of seven taxis in Limassol are illegal. He also spoke of the case of a taxi driver who dragged a pedestrian into a crossing and continues to carry out transports. He also made more serious allegations against "pirate" taxi drivers, as he said that some of them use drugs and then illegally transport passengers. At the same time, he fired at the Police for negligence in investigating complaints.
According to official data given to the meeting of the parliamentary committee on transport in the first six months of 2024, 120 complaints of piracy were made after complaints. However, regardless of any efforts, the situation has not been reversed.
