A disciplinary investigation into the Akamas roadworks may have another extension, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Friday.

In statements to Stockwatch, she said an investigation into possible disciplinary offences was slated to be wrapped by the end of the year, following a cabinet decision.

Nonetheless, due to a large volume of evidence and the scope of the investigation, an extension request was filed which is currently being evaluated.

The decision as to whether an extension will be granted will be taken by cabinet, Panayiotou said.

Earlier this year, the minister said possible disciplinary offences by two state officials have been recorded in the investigation into illegal intervention in the Akamas.

The officials identified by the inquiry are the former director of the Forestry Department Charalambos Alexandrou and the former director of the Environmental Department Costas Hadjipanayiotou.

Panayiotou explained that potential disciplinary offences related to the implementation of the sustainable development and national park plan for Akamas were found against the two individuals.

The issue came to light when roadworks began in Akamas in September 2023 after the greenlight from the forestry department.

Environmental groups nonetheless cried foul after they argued the works were going outside the scope of what the environment department had approved.

Cabinet consequently ordered a halt of the works and ordered a probe into the matter.

An administrative investigation was first launched into illegal interventions in Akamas by the Department of the Environment, which found a number of irregularities. It also spotted discrepancies between the Special Environmental Assessment (SEA) and the subsequent environmental approval granted for the road works project.

Environmental groups called for the findings to be published, as the audit office was also carrying out an investigation – but could not move forward without the material.

President Nikos Christodoulides had also said he was “annoyed” earlier this year after seeing images depicting deviations in roadworks.

The audit office said the roadworks in Akamas appear to fail to be in line with what was agreed in an environmental study on the area. A spokesman told the Cyprus Mail that a specific road has been widened by ten metres, while the agreed framework for the area says that “roads will not be widened”.