By Martin Hellicar
POLICE chief Andreas Angelides yesterday ordered an emergency probe into allegations that police officers were in cahoots with underworld gangs forcing foreign cabaret artistes into prostitution.
The investigation is also expected to include close relatives of top politicians, whose names have been linked to the sordid scam.
Among these is Pambos Anastassiades, brother of Nicos Anastassiades, leader of the governing Disy party.
“The chief of police has ordered an urgent investigation concerning allegations and information that policemen have links with flesh-trading gangs, and are being paid to supply fake residence permits for foreign women in Cyprus,” a police announcement said.
Nicos Anastassiades yesterday called for a full and unimpeded investigation of the claims.
“I will not accept or tolerate disruption of the investigations in order to cover up anyone’s possible responsibilities, including my brother’s,” the Disy leader stated in a letter sent to Angelides, which he released yesterday. Anastassiades called on police to pull out all the stops to ensure a speedy conclusion of the investigation.
Pambos Anastassiades has worked as a labour agent specialising in the import of foreign workers.
Cyprus has acquired a sordid reputation for the import of female cabaret dancers who are then allegedly forced to work as prostitutes.
The Disy leader was at pains to insist that his brother, if proven guilty, would not get off because of his political connections. “There is absolutely no chance of my tolerating the protection of anyone,” Anastassiades told reporters.
The police announcement stated that Angelides “would not allow the name of the whole police force to be blackened by the possible misdemeanours of an isolated minority.”
Angelides vowed that any officers found guilty of involvement in the alleged scam would face the full penalty under law.
Three top police officers make up the investigating committee set up yesterday.
Akel deputy Kikis Yiangou issued a statement saying the police investigation proved what he had claimed all along: that officers were ‘in bed’ with cabaret owners and routinely turned a blind eye to the abuse of dancers at their clubs.
Yiangou, a seasoned police ‘basher’, predicted the probe would throw up much dirt.
“It will be ascertained that senior officers satisfy their sexual appetites in specially appointed rooms at entertainment clubs, with artistes,” the opposition party deputy claimed.
