Police officers speak out over colleagues’ acquittal for beating caught on tape
MEMBERS OF the police force have finally spoken out against the court decision to acquit ten policemen caught on camera beating two students.
A number of officers yesterday said they felt disgraced and ashamed, and called on the Police Chief to dismiss all ten policemen.
The group of officers sent a letter to Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas saying, “If society feels abhorrence towards the police, imagine how disgraced and ashamed we feel, as the law-abiding men and women officers of the police force, loyal and conscientious towards the duty of law and human dignity.”
It added, “Feeling that we express the large majority of the police force, we made the decision to no longer remain silent in the shame that burdens all policemen.”
For the police to emerge from this disgrace and regain the public’s trust, the letter continued, the Police Chief must confiscate the 10 officers’ badges and dismiss them from the force.
“That orgy of cowardly police beasts that society observes through its televisions in shock, doesn’t much differ from the confession of Turk Attila Olgac,” the letter added.
Speaking to the CyBC yesterday, Papacostas said he was awaiting the conclusion of the Supreme Court appeal to the decision – expected to be submitted by the Legal Services today – but added that he was not planning to cover up any disciplinary offences.
Reactions were also provoked by Justice Minister Loucas Louca’s statements on Sunday, when he criticised the various protests and public demonstrations that have taken place since the acquittal.
Louca said it was not right to set public courtrooms, nor was it beneficial for Cyprus society to use methods used in the middle ages.
“It appears that the Minister unknowingly defended the bad façade of the police, when indeed the vast majority of its members are condemning these methods,” said DISY deputy Ionas Nicolaou.
Outgoing Green Party leader George Perdikis added that the minister’s statements were at the least “unfortunate”.
“It is not demonstrations that take us back to the Middle Ages, neither does a public reaction constitute a return to public courtrooms,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Legal Services convened late into last night to prepare their appeal. Sources in the Services yesterday said the appeal would more than likely be submitted today. The appeal is expected to centre around four points: that the Criminal Court had concluded on wrong findings, the law for real events was applied wrongfully, testimonies were wrongfully accepted or rejected and there were insufficient testimonies for the court to reach a conclusion.
If they haven’t wrapped up by today, the Appeal will be lodged on Thursday, which is the deadline.
