Cyprus President calls for an end to corruption in Police Force

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias called for joint action in a bid to combat corruption in the Police Force.

The President was addressing a ceremony for the granting of the appointment acts of the new Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police Miclalis Papageorgiou and Andreas Nicolaides respectively.

Papageorgiou succeeds Iacovos Papacostas who resigned on June 18 one day before Cyprus' Attorney-General Petros Clerides announced his final decision on the prosecution of police officers accused with inadequate exercise of their duties, in the case of Antonis Prokopiou Kita, who while serving a life sentence for rape and murder, escaped from private hospital on December 12.

The uproar surrounding Kitas’ lengthy stay at the private hospital as well as the circumstances surrounding his escape led to the resignation last year of Justice and Public Order Minister Kypros Chrysostomides.

''You assume your duties in a difficult time for the Police Force. After the case of the escapee the Police Force and the entire society was disrupted and the image and prestige of the Police has been shaken,'' the President noted, adding ''given the difficult situation, the state and the society expects much from the new leadership of the Police Force.''

''The citizens need a human and strict police force, a police force with human sensitivity but also impartial in observing the law with nor prejudice,'' he added

Papageorgiou said that he is fully aware of the heavy duties he assumes, pledging that the new leadership will have a close and sincere cooperation with all members of the Police force and the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.

On his part, Nicolaides pledged he will work hard to fulfill the Police Force mission to secure the rule of law and serve the citizens.