Cyprus president sacks police and prison chiefs after escape scandal
The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, took decisive steps following the scandalous escape of a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment. He dismissed the police chief and his deputy, as well as the acting head of the prison services.
The 42-year-old man, who was serving a life sentence for killing his 24-year-old partner and her four-year-old daughter, managed to escape from prison transport.
The incident occurred on Thursday, and the fugitive was spotted on Sunday while shopping in a store in the town of Limassol.
This incident enraged the President of Cyprus, who dismissed the deputy police chief and the acting head of the prison services.
Three policemen and four guards suspended
President Christodoulides urgently announced the dismissals after returning from New York, where he attended the UN General Assembly session.
Following the events, three policemen and four guards responsible for the prisoner's protection during transport were suspended. Additionally, a 26-year-old man suspected of aiding the escape was detained.
The prisoner's escape outraged the Cypriot public opinion and tarnished the reputation of the national police.
The President of Cyprus is grappling with the growing problem of a general belief in the corruption and incompetence of public officials.
