THE POLICE Complaints Commission has absolved the police of any responsibility involving the death of a 16-year-old motorcyclist, who was killed in an accident last December in Larnaca.
The Commission had been investigating the case after the victim’s fellow students claimed 16-year-old Vasilis Theakou – who wasn’t wearing a helmet and had no licence – was being chased by a policeman before the accident occurred. The Attorney-general ordered a probe into the matter.
But the Commission yesterday announced its ruling: “No responsibility lies with the police.”
In an announcement, the police said the Commission had concluded “no youths had been chased by the police and no responsibility could be placed with its member or members, which is a conclusion the Attorney-general agrees with”.
Vasilis Theakou was killed on December 4 when he apparently lost control of his moped on Alexander Panagouli Avenue in the coastal town. The pupil from the local Technical School was catapulted into an electricity pole. His schoolmates claimed that Vasilis was being chased by police just before the crash.
The police – who announced the results of the Commission’s probe – added yesterday that the tragic incident had provoked strong public reactions, among students and the media. “The result was to ignite an explosive atmosphere, peaking with demonstrations of protest by youths outside Larnaca Police Headquarters during which a member of the police force was injured and damage was caused to the building and vehicles.”
The police went on to “express sadness” over the way the issue was handled by the media.
In January, around 100 students bombarded Larnaca Traffic Police department with stones, firecrackers and eggs. It was the second protest over the teen’s death.
The first took place five days after he was killed when 300 students tried to storm Larnaca police traffic department. The protest ended when the boy’s father Demetris Theakou backed the police version of events, saying his son should not have been driving without a helmet or licence.
The second protest took place in January after the father appeared on Sigma television retracting that statement he had initially made after the accident where he had supported the police version.
