‘This is not a coffee shop’

A NICOSIA District Judge yesterday interrupted a hearing to scold a police officer who walked into his courtroom and shook hands with another man.

Judge Michalis Ambizas appeared unimpressed when the officer entered the court and immediately shook hands with someone sitting in the back. “Do you want a coffee,” the judge asked.

He had been in the middle of listening to the testimony of a man charged with illegally employing a Chinese woman.

At first the officer did not realise he was being addressed until the judge continued to stare at him, temporarily suspending the hearing.

When the officer looked up he told the court he had bad eyesight, apparently not understanding what the problem was.

“I am talking about you coming in here and shaking hands with people you know as if you were in a coffee shop,” said Ambizas.

“Ordinary people come in and know where they are, not an officer of the law.”

The embarrassed officer apologised and asked the judge if he should leave and come back, to which the judge replied that would not be necessary.

“No I think you have understood my point,” the judge said.

As the proceeding continued the officer stood quietly with his back against the door, his legs crossed at the ankle and clutching a heavy file, his eyes staring fixedly at the ground.

In another courtroom a second officer was reprimanded for her clothing. The plainclothes officer who was wearing a strapless top was told her clothes were inappropriate and she was asked to leave the room by the presiding judge. The woman came back 10 minutes later wearing a denim jacket zipped up to her chin. The garment had apparently been in her car and she’d forgotten to bring it with her the first time she’d entered the court.