A CONVICTED murderer intends to sue the former prison governor for allegedly tarnishing his reputation by linking him with the theft of former president Tassos Papadopoulos’ body.
Andreas Aristodemou, also known as Yiouroukkis, made his intentions public yesterday through daily newspaper Politis.
In a letter passed on to Politis by his lawyers, Aristodemou said he intended to file a defamation lawsuit against former prison governor Panikos Kyriakou in the next few days.
In the letter his lawyers also conveyed their client’s dismay “for the unprovoked, unjustified and malicious attempts by some to link his name with the case of the theft of Papadopoulos’ body”.
He also expressed his gratitude towards the police for resolving the case and clearing his name as well as “sympathy towards the former President’s family for the emotional anguish they have endured.”
Tassos Papadopoulos’ body was stolen from his grave in December last year, and following months of intense investigation three suspects were finally apprehended last week. Another convict, Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, has been implicated with the case, as well as two other suspects – Kitas’ brother and an unnamed Indian man.
According to Politis, when news of the theft broke, Kyriakou informed Police Chief Michalis Papageorghiou of his suspicion that Aristodimou could be involved, due to a statement the prisoner is claimed to have made in the past regarding plans to steal the body of another former president, Spyros Kyprianou.
The prisoner is then said to have been questioned regarding the theft, but was unaware who had accused him until recently. According to Politis he discovered who was behind the claim when Kyriakou appeared on a television channel discussing the information he had given to the Police Chief.
Also according to Politis, Kyriakou expressed distress at the fact he had been named as the informant by the same newspaper, jeopardizing his safety, and also implied that the leak may have occurred by the chief of police himself as he was the only person he gave the information to.
In light of the developments, Kyriakou said he plans to request protection from the attorney general.
Aristodimou was jailed for life more than two decades ago for the murders of Maria Teloni and Artin Bahadourian. In 1998 Aristodimou sued the newspaper Simerini claiming they had falsely connected him with the Turkish secret services.
