A Sri Lankan man was remanded for six days in Paphos on Thursday in connection with an ongoing investigation into bogus medical certificates to secure work permits for foreign workers.

Paphos CID spokesman said the 46-year-old had made various assertions that were being investigated.

The man joins six others, including two Paphos doctors, who were remanded for seven days on June 4.

The two doctors, 68 and 51, are suspected of issuing the fake certificates used by the other suspects to hire foreign workers.

Four others – the owner of an employment agency, two employees, and an 80-year-old who had been friends with a 78-year-old man who reported the case to police – were arrested on June 2.

It all started when the 78-year-old Yeroskipou resident was notified of unpaid dues to social insurance for a foreign care worker that he never employed at his house.

The man was advised to report the case to police after telling his local social insurance office that he had never employed anyone.

Police found out that in 2013, the 78-year-old had submitted three applications for a caregiver – two were rejected and one approved without him knowing.

The man told police that in the past he and the 80-year-old, who co-operates with employment agencies, had discussed the possibility of hiring a caregiver for his wife.

To that end he handed over his ID card and signed various documents without reading them. From that time, there had been no development as regards his wife’s caregiver, the man said.

The 80-year-old had asked the 51-year-old doctor to issue a certificate in the 78-year-old’s name, saying he was overweight with mobility problems. These are some of the conditions for hiring a foreign male caregiver.

The suspect also claimed that he paid the doctor €80.

The doctor denied ever issuing a certificate without the patient being present. He also denied taking €80, saying he never charged for certificates.

The other doctor refused to answer any questions, police said.

(Cyprus Mail)