Former Cyprus defence minister given jail term for blast

All four defendants, found guilty of causing the death of 13 persons through reckless acts, were given today jail sentences in connection with the fatal explosion in July 2011 at a naval base, on Cyprus’ southern coast.

Former Defence Minister Costas Papacostas was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for the deaths of 13 people killed at the naval base “Evangelos Florakis” munitions blast on July 11, 2011.

On 9 July 2013, Costas Papacostas was found guilty of manslaughter by Larnaka Assize Court which convened today to announce the sentence.

The three other men who were also found guilty by the court in connection with the case, namely fire service chief Andreas Nicolaou, deputy chief Charalambos Charalambous, and Andreas Loizides, the commander of the disaster response squad EMAK, were sentenced to two years in prison each.

They were found guilty on the charge of causing death due to a reckless and dangerous act and face up to four years in jail.

Their sentences will run concurrently.

The decision was read by the President of the Assize Court. Former Defence Minister Costas Papakostas did not appear in court today as he has been in Nicosia General Hospital since July 9, the day of the verdict, due to health problems.

Former Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and National Guard deputy commander Savvas Argyrou were acquitted.

The munitions had been seized from the Monchegorsk, a ship that sailed from Iran. They were confiscated in February 2009 after it was determined they were in breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions on Iran.

They had been stored at the Evangelos Florakis base in containers that were left exposed to the elements until the day they exploded on 11 July, killing seven sailors and six firefighters. The blast also caused significant damage to the island’s biggest power station, located in the area, which had an effect on the economy.