‘Kitas’ officers challenge suspension

Four senior police officers recently suspended, pending the conclusion of their criminal trial regarding their involvement in the Antonis Prokopiou Kitas debacle, are demanding their reinstatement.

The foursome is claiming Justice Minister Loucas Louca had no authority to order their suspension when he did and have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court through their lawyers. The suspects, Charalambos Ioannou, Avraam Charalambous, Pantelis Polyviou and Yiannakos Yiannakou, are asking for the suspension of Louca’s decision until their prosecution concludes.

The four’s legal representatives are arguing that the minister had no right to issue a suspension order following their clients’ criminal prosecution. The minister is only allowed to suspend a police officer during an investigation of a case and also has the right to extend a suspension following criminal prosecution.

Five suspects were indicted on July 31 in connection with the incarceration and escape of convicted double rapist and murderer Kitas in December last year.

The fifth suspect, warden of Nicosia’s Central Prisons Michael Hadjidemetriou, was suspended in January pending an investigation into the affair.

He was temporarily reinstated in May until the Justice Ministry asked the Public Services Commission (PSC) to extend his suspension pending the conclusion of a disciplinary procedure into his responsibility for Kitas’ escape. The disciplinary proceedings against Hadjidemetriou have since been postponed in light of the criminal case.

Last week Louca said as far as he had been concerned the decision of whether or not to suspend the four had started when the officers had been indicted last month.

The decision to suspend them had been to avoid the direct or indirect influence of witnesses and for reasons of public interest.

During their suspension the four will receive two-thirds of their monthly salary.

The five will appear in court on October 19.

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