Kitas escape trial postponed

THE TRIAL concerning the December 2008, escape of convicted rapist and murderer Antonis Prokopiou Kitas’ from the Apollonion Hospital has been postponed until late November.
Kitas – who was convicted to life after brutally raping and murdering two women in the 1990s – escaped from the private clinic, after being treated there for six months for gastric reflux.
The Drug Law Enforcement Unit’s former Deputy Commander, Avraam Charalambous, along with Chief Inspectors Charalambos Ioannou and Pantelis Polyviou, Sergeants Yiannos Yiannakou and Ioanni Ioannou, and Constable Savvas Savva are suspects in the case.
All have pleaded not guilty to 15 charges.
The hearing, which was meant to start at Nicosia District Court yesterday, has been postponed until November 29.
State prosecutor Elena Kleopa yesterday told court that the prosecuting team had been in communication with the officers’ defence lawyers in a bid to reach a deal where the suspects would accept some of the charges brought against them. These include abuse of power, failure to do their duty and concealing information.
However, Kleopa said the lawyers’ response was negative. If the settlement had been achieved, there would have been no need for a hearing.
Kitas, alias Al Capone, managed to stay on the run for over three weeks following an initial police chase in the city centre where he was spotted within hours of his escape from the clinic.
The six suspects are thought to have assisted his escape, as well as covering up his nightly ventures from the clinic, allegedly to carry out crimes.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Loucas Louca yesterday said the police inspector named by Kitas as one of the masterminds behind the theft of former President Tassos Papadopoulos’ body from his grave in Deftera would be prosecuted.
Louca said Kitas’s claims – some of which he said were imaginary – would be investigated, and the police officer would be prosecuted following the outcome of an internal investigation.
“It wouldn’t be right to go into the details from the moment but the case is already in progress,” said Louca.
In regards to Kitas’ claims that there were plans to murder a number of men involved in the online casino business, Louca said this was something that was mentioned in the past and all necessary measures were taken back then to protect those persons.
“The police always examine all the information and takes the necessary measures,” the minister said.

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