PRESIDENT Glafcos Clerides yesterday fired deputy police chief Nicos Serdaris for his part in a delayed radar tender process.
The radars would have provided special coastal surveillance facilities in the fight against illegal immigration. The delays caused the tender process to collapse, at a time last year when several boatloads of immigrants slipped through coastguard patrols.
Announcing the decision following a lengthy enquiry and after consultation with Attorney-general Alecos Markides, Clerides said:
“I have concluded that there is a collective responsibility in the unacceptable delay for the evaluation of tenders by the technical evaluation committee.
“Deputy Chief of Police Serdaris’ responsibility has to do with the period from March 24 2000 up until the tenders’ expiry date. As to whether the entire delay of the tender process, which began in 1990, was also caused by other individuals, this is something that is being investigated and which will be determined in the Attorney-general’s report to the Cabinet.”
Clerides added: “It is obvious that there was collective responsibility which was not limited to one person. The decision on Serdaris is based solely on the fact that he did not tell the truth to a commission of enquiry.”
He said the one-man commission of inquiry into the matter had found Serdaris’ testimony to be “untruthful on substantive points and a testimony of evasion. He tried to cover up for himself.”
Clerides said the probe led by former Supreme Court president Demetrakis Stylianides was in a better position to assess a witness’ credibility than any other body.
“Taking into account the assessment of Serdaris’ testimony and because his testimony was considered not truthful. I decided that he could no longer remain in the post of the Deputy Chief of Police, and I am therefore terminating his services.”
Serdaris’ dismissal is effective immediately. Clerides said a replacement would be appointed shortly, once he had consulted with the Minister of Justice and Public Order and the Chief of Police.
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