Attempted suicide at the prison

A 31-YEAR-OLD Greek convict attempted to commit suicide on Tuesday at the Nicosia central prisons police said.

According to reports he was found by prison guards after he had tried to hang himself with a bed sheet. The 31-year-old was serving time on a drugs related case.

After receiving first aid he was taken to Nicosia GeneralHospital. His life is not in danger according to doctors.

Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said that a full investigation would take place in cooperation with the central prisons.

In August a psychologically disturbed 27-year-old, and in July a 42-year-old both committed suicide at the prison.

It was announced earlier this month that prisoners would soon have round-the-clock healthcare. The anti-torture committee report in 2008 stated that the existing healthcare system was unsatisfactory and pointed to certain functional problems, Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said.

“Due to this situation there was an increase in the number of people inflicting injury on themselves, on others and suicide attempts,” he said.

Speaking of the two previous suicides Nicolaou said “they are not unrelated to the situation at the central prisons which is referred to in the report which we have seen fit to handle”.

 

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