National Guard deputy chief keeps his job after wire-tapping debacle

By Constantinos Psillides

NO CRIMINAL charges can brought against anyone regarding the unlicensed wiretapping search conducted at the office of the deputy chief of the National Guard Andreas Papapavlou on July 16, the attorney-general’s office concluded on Monday.

As a result, President Nicos Anastasiades issued a written statement on Monday saying that Papapavlou’s offer to resign would not be accepted.

“Although his actions were clearly erroneous, what matters now is that order and calm prevail in the ranks of the National Guard so the goal of successfully restructuring and modernising the army is achieved,” read the president’s statement.

The statement made clear that the deputy chief would be reprimanded for his actions, since he resorted to outside help to check his office.

On July 16 two Greek Cypriots security officers – both working at the British bases – were arrested by police outside the defence ministry offices. Police found in their possession wiretapping tracking equipment and after interrogation they admitted being invited by the deputy chief of the National Guard to check his office for secret cameras and other hidden electronic surveillance devices. The officers said that they were friends with the deputy chief.

Staff in the defence ministry got suspicious and contacted the police to report that people were doing a wiretapping search in the premises.

The two officers were later released without charge.

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