THE POLICE Complaints Commission will decide later this week whether to launch an investigation into the way police treated a teenager, who was allegedly arrested detained, forced to testify against his father in a court hearing over property dispute.
Head of the Commission, Yiannakis Agapiou, yesterday said a meeting would be held on Thursday.
“In the event that the Commission decides to launch an investigation, the police investigation will have to end as the Commission’s investigation has priority,” said Agapiou.
Limassol Police came under scrutiny again last week after allegedly barging to the 15-year-old’s home early in the morning, stripping and handcuffing him and throwing him in a cell, all for failing to turn up to testify in his father’s property-related trial.
Police were widely criticised for implementing legislation so strictly on a minor – especially one whose mother has died – though they maintained that they were merely acting on court orders.
But as Agapiou pointed out yesterday, Cyprus is bound by international children’s rights’ treaties, according to which legal provisions should be relaxed when it comes to minors.
Shortcomings in local legislation when it comes to minors have long been spotted by DISY deputy and Chairman of the House Legal Affairs Committee Ionas Nicolaou, who yesterday stressed the need for amendments.
He said he submitted a law proposal back in 2003 to regulate the various aspects, which was discussed on a number of occasions and resulted in a recent bill by the government that will start being examined this Thursday.
The specific case, he added, has many aspects that can’t all be covered by investigations.
“How can a court issue an arrest warrant for a minor and order he be detained in holding cells, to appear in court many hours later?” Nicolaou wondered. “And how can a motherless teenager be asked to testify against his own father?”
He said police should have shown the necessary sensitivity.
“In Cyprus, we have an ancient judicial system when it comes to underage persons, which needs to be amended,” Nicolaou concluded.
