CIVIL Registry and Migration Director Anny Shakalli was attacked in her own bed during the early hours of yesterday morning, police said.
The attack took place at around 3.10am while she was at home alone in Ayioi Omoloyites in Nicosia.
Police said her assailant, who is believed to be of Asian descent, broke in through an open window and made his way to her bedroom. Shakalli’s attacker then tried to gag her, while hitting her on the face. When the mother of two fought back, her attacker ran out the front door and disappeared in an unknown direction, police said.
The Civil Registry and Migration Director immediately called police, who were dispatched to her home. State pathologist Nicholas Charalambous who was also called to the scene said Shakalli had suffered a bump to the head and scratches to her neck and hands.
Sources who wished to remain unnamed said the attack on Shakalli, who is well known for her strict adherence to the law and zero leniency policy with immigrants and deportation orders, had only been a matter of time.
But Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis yesterday tried to play down the attack by saying it had absolutely nothing to do with her position.
“Because we are at a stage of questioning what I must assure you is that it had nothing, at least according to her, with the department’s authority. Nor does it have anything to do with her competency as Civil Registry and Migration Director,” he said.
“As you understand, this is a case being handled by the police and so that we can draw safe conclusions this procedure must be completed,” he added.
Nevertheless, sources close to the investigation implied Shakalli believed the incident was not as unrelated to her position as Sylikiotis would have the public believe.
“The minister can say what he wants. The police are investigating all possibilities,” the source said.
Shakalli was yesterday reported to have been left exhausted by her attack and without sleep. By the afternoon, police investigations had uncovered no trace of the suspect, who is said to have been barefoot at the time of the attack and was not known to Shakalli.
Justice Minister Kypros Chrysostomides said the incident was extremely serious and would be fully investigated.
Like Sylikiotis, Chrysostomides urged reporters to wait for the conclusion of investigations.
“I repeat, I consider this incident particularly serious,” he said.
Police chief Iacovos Papacostas also said it was too early to draw any conclusions about such a “serious and very, very sensitive” issue. Responding to reporters’ questions, he added that it was still too early to determine whether the attack had been a failed attempt at an even more serious attack.
