New Cyprus Police Chief and Deputy Chief appointed

Michalakis Papageorgiou is the new Cyprus Police Chief.

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that President Demetris Christofias has appointed Papageorgiou, who served until now as Deputy Chief of Police, as the new Chief in succession of Iacovos Papacostas who resigned on June 18.

Papacostas had said his resignation aimed at making it easier for the President of the Republic and the government to handle the case of Antonis Prokopiou Kita, sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and murder.

Kitas was in a private hospital last summer when he escaped on December 12, 2008 but was arrested on January 5, 2009. At that time, the President did not accept Papacostas' resignation.

Stephanou also said that Andreas Nicolaides, who served until now as Assistant Chief (Administration) of the Cyprus Police, was also appointed by President Christofias as the new Deputy Chief.