CYPRIOTS were yesterday in a state of shock after watching a video of the brutal beating of two men by plainclothes police officers last year.
The video, which shows the beating of 27-year-old Marcos Papageorgiou and his friend, Yiannis Nicolaou, in Nicosia on December 20, was posted on Politis’ website after the newspaper secured a copy of the tape.
The chilling 10 minute and 52 second recording, which was made by an anonymous witness, carries echoes of the Rodney King beating caught on video in Los Angeles 15 years ago.
It shows Papageorgiou and Nicolaou lying on the road with their hands cuffed behind their backs. They are surrounded by at least eight officers, including a woman, and a police car is visible in the shot. The officers are said to be members of MMAD (Mobile Rapid Reaction Unit), who had stopped the young men on a routine ID check.
The recording, which has muffled sound, shows one of the officers taking a swinging kick at one of the victim’s chest while the others stand around watching. As different officers’ move in and out of the camera’s shot, one thing remains constant: the beating.
The boys are repeatedly dragged, thrown on the floor, tossed from the pavement like a sack of potatoes, kicked in the stomach, kneed in the back and stamped on.
At one point, one of the officers stands on the legs of one of the young men, while another lifts him from the shoulders and repeatedly bangs his head up and down on the pavement.
Another image shows one of the victims trying to get up from the ground but being kicked back down; then, while the officer’s foot is still on his chest, the victim is kicked and rolled over on his front.
The men are said to have been drink driving that night. At the time, police said they had resisted arrest and that “due force” had to be used to detain them.
Both men taken to hospital for treatment and released with casts on their left arms two days later. Papageorgiou’s father is suing the police for damages.
The video tape – from which images were printed in yesterday’s Politis – sparked a frenzied reaction from police, the government, legal services and political parties alike.
Police Chief Charalambos Koulentis was quick to condemn the brutality, but in the same breath said going public with the image was not a good idea, as it could affect a future trial.
“If what the video tape shows is true, then that sort of behaviour is totally condemnable and inexcusable,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “However, instead of being given to the media the tape should have been given to the criminal investigator because it will likely affect the inquiries.”
Koulentis went on to say that although he in no way wanted to cover up the incident, the people involved in the beating deserved a fair trial and under the legal system were “innocent until proved guilty”.
“In my opinion, by going public, any trial they are likely to face will be affected.”
The police chief said the Attorney-general had appointed a criminal investigator the day after the event and the Ombudswoman had also looked into the matter.
“There are likely to be criminal responsibilities and subsequent prosecutions, which is why I have not yet launched a disciplinary investigation into the matter. Once the criminal investigation is complete, I will instruct that a disciplinary investigation be launched,” he said.
Attorney-general Petros Clerides confirmed he had seen the tape and had handed it over to an independent investigator, who was taking longer than expected to complete his inquiry into the matter.
“I’ll contact him today to see at what stage it’s at,” he said.
Clerides said once the investigator had collected and assessed all the information related to the case and it was deemed the police had used excessive force – resulting in the abuse and torture of the two men – his office would not hesitate to press charges where necessary.
The Attorney-general also expressed surprise that the witness had gone ahead and made the video tape public. “When he brought it in, he was insistent his name and the tape be kept confidential,” he said.
However, unlike Koulentis, Clerides did not think the fact would affect the case.
Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou also confirmed she had seen the tape three months ago and had prepared a preliminary report, which had been handed to police.
“I am in full co-operation with the police chief and am confident the police will do something when they have collected all the information,” she said.
“Once the police has filed its report I will go ahead and prepare a full report,” she added.
Meanwhile opposition parties DISY and the United Democrats condemned the violent images and called for the punishment of those responsible.
DISY also used the incident to take yet another a swipe at the government by holding the Justice Minister accountable and saying there were political responsibilities, calling for President Tassos Papadopoulos’ intervention.
Government Spokesman George Lillikas said the government could not pass judgement pending the investigation. However, he warned those found responsible would be prosecuted.
Justice Minister Doros Theodorou could not be reached for comment yesterday, but when later asked by a television reporter why he had not yet seen the video of the police beating, he snapped back.
“My job is not to watch the television stations,” Theodorou said.
