Probe after bailiff arrested by officer he tried to serve

Police chief Zacharias Chrysostomou ordered an investigation concerning abuse of power and other offences against a police officer from Limassol who allegedly arrested a bailiff on the pretext that he had entered his residence illegally, police spokesman Andreas Angelides said on Monday.

The incident occurred Saturday afternoon, when the bailiff, who was reportedly trying for weeks to arrange a meeting with the police officer to serve him with court papers, had made a last attempt to meet him.

“The bailiff claimed he rang the bell of the main door of the apartment building where the officer lives and the door was opened without anyone making any inquiries as to who was at the door. The bailiff then went up to the officer’s apartment and knocked on the door but when the officer saw him, he told him that he was trespassing,” Angelides said.

The bailiff did not enter the officer’s apartment, according to the report of events, Angelides said.

According to CyBC the officer announced to the bailiff he was under arrest for illegal entry and had him transferred to the local police station in a patrol car. The bailiff, who reportedly spent four hours at the police station, claimed in his statement that he did not enter the officer’s apartment, while the officer filed a report against the bailiff.

Angelides said that the police chief ordered a disciplinary and criminal investigation against the officer, for abuse of power and other offences.

CyBC reported that the officer was avoiding the bailiff for three weeks and that he was making excuses every time the bailiff called him to arrange a meeting.