NONE of the law enforcement officers involved in the brutal beatings of two civilians last December are to be suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary probe, the police chief has said.
The incident, which was taped by an anonymous witness and widely broadcast on television last week, saw the repeated beating by MMAD (Mobile Rapid Reaction Unit) officers of 27-year-old Marcos Papageorgiou and his friend, Yiannis Nicolaou, on Armenias Street in Nicosia on December 20. The men were stopped as part of a routine ID check and after they allegedly resisted arrest, police said “due force” was used to detain them.
But three months down the line virtually nothing has been done to hold accountable the suspect officers; it was only after the shocking footage was aired that suddenly the cogs started turning and the Attorney-general announced he was speeding up the investigation. The delays have heightened concerns of a cover-up.
In the past, in a number of cases involving police brutality that actually made it to court, the state prosecutor was himself a member of the force, raising further questions as to the impartiality of the proceedings.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Justice Minister Doros Theodorou revealed that all eight of the officers – including one woman – shown on the tape have been identified and are being questioned.
However, they cannot be prosecuted unless – and until – Attorney-general Petros Clerides decides to press charges. Clerides’ probe is expected to wrap up in 10 days’ time. Assuming the AG gives the green light for prosecution, the police force will then launch a disciplinary inquiry, which, under the law, should be finished within a month.
Yet both Theodorou and police chief Charalambos Koulendis were at pains to justify why no action was being taken against the officers in the meantime. Critics have pointed that, since the officers are suspects, they should be sent home anyway, as one would expect with any civil servant believed to have breached his duties. If the officers were later cleared of the charges, they would be reinstated and given their badges back.
Others go a step further, calling the whole affair a sham: left untouched, the officers could try to influence colleagues who might later be called to testify.
But the police chief claimed yesterday that his hands were tied. He explained the officers in question could not be suspended because that would constitute a “punitive measure” and as such would be illegal, as the suspects have not yet been charged.
“If the prosecutor deems that the presence of these persons at their place of work would be detrimental to the conducting of the criminal case, then by the authority vested in me I shall not hesitate to implement the regulations [for suspension],” said Koulendis.
The chief refused to name the departments to which the plainclothes officers belonged, even though it’s been reported that some work for CID, MMAD and others are seconded to police headquarters. The group of eight were said to be on a stakeout as part of operations to apprehend a serial rapist on the loose.
For his part, Theodorou yesterday insisted these were isolated incidents and that “a few bad apples” should not be allowed to tarnish the image of the entire police force.
“The vast majority of the police carries out its duties lawfully, protects and serves, and safeguards human rights…” he added.
Meanwhile, Ombudswoman Eliana Nicolaou has said that her own report on the case – updated with information from the contentious footage – should be out by Tuesday at the latest.
Nicolaou has received assurances from the police chief that the force will fully co-operate with her recommendations.
And in a related development, media reports yesterday said that the person who filmed the beatings would testify in court via teleconferencing, for their own protection. Via a computer monitor, the person would be able to watch the proceedings in court but they would not be seen. If necessary, the judge may decide that the witness’ voice should be altered to rule out any possibility of the person being recognised.
