‘We have a plan of action’ to catch Kitas

JUSTICE Minister Loucas Louca said yesterday he had “a plan of action” regarding escaped convict Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, details of which he could “of course” not reveal.

Speaking to reporters at the Justice Ministry regarding the 42-year-old double rapist and murderer’s escape during the early hours of December 12, Loucas said he had been fully briefed about the action plan.

“Prior to undertaking my duties, as you know, an investigative committee was appointed, and any statement could be construed as an intervention in its work,” he said.

Loucas said he had not yet met with the police chief, who was abroad for “medical reasons”, but that he had met with the police leadership and the assistant police chief with whom he had daily communication.

“I don’t intend to make any other comment on operational issues,” the Justice Minister said.

Thirteen days ago, Kitas, more commonly known as Al Capone, slipped out of his room window at Nicosia’s Appollonion hospital just before 2am. Shortly afterwards, he was involved in a police shootout on Stassicratous Street during an alleged drugs bust gone wrong. Kitas and three other people sped off in an unknown direction. The getaway car was later found abandoned in Potamia village.

The 42-year-old, who was jailed for life in 1994 for the rapes and murders of Oksana Lisna, 20, and Christina Ahfeldt, 28, has not been found since.

Kitas had been receiving treatment for gastric reflux for the past six months. Since his escape, reports of lax security measures have emerged, including evidence that Kitas had been directly involved in the planning and execution of a number of recent crimes.