A police officer arrested for allegedly giving his mobile phone to a suspect in the 17 January Larnaca shooting case was remanded for four days in a closed-door hearing today.
Police Internal Affairs arrested the officer after he allegedly gave his personal phone to a 48-year-old man who is the alleged head of a criminal group that demanded protection money from a businessman in central Larnaca.
The suspect, along with four other men, was referred on Wednesday for direct trial before Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court and transferred to Central Prisons as a remand prisoner.
The officer faces nine charges including abuse of power, fraud and breach of trust by a public official, transporting a mobile phone to police cells, neglect of duty, breach of official secrecy, bribery of a public official, and illicit acquisition of property benefit.
The incident
The officer allegedly gave his phone to the detainee whilst performing guard duty at Larnaca Police Station cells before the suspect’s referral to trial. The detainee made a number of calls. The officer allegedly gave his phone on more than one occasion, including last Saturday, according to philenews information.
Police reviewed CCTV footage from the station after receiving information about the incident and decided to arrest the officer. He was suspended from duty. The officer had been suspended previously for disciplinary offences.
Court clash
The prosecution requested a closed-door hearing, invoking a law article protecting Service members’ official duty.
Defence lawyer Paris Loizou strongly objected, requesting an open procedure and criticising police. He questioned why the party requesting closed doors had leaked information yesterday about the officer that was included in the remand request. He accused police of attempting to create an atmosphere of fear through media leaks.
After a 15-minute break, the court accepted the request for a closed-door procedure to avoid publicising the Service’s duties. Loizou objected to the officer’s detention, but the court rejected his request.