The investigation into the Central Prisons escalated today after the lawyers representing two former high-ranking prison officials, Anna Aristotelous and Athina Demetriou, denied any knowledge of the alleged incidents, with Demetriou’s legal counsel fiercely alleging the new leaks are part of a targeted campaign of retaliation against her client.
Investigators from Police Headquarters CID are currently scrutinising a detailed complaint by a female inmate alleging she received “special treatment,” including repeated access to a specific office for hours after lockdown and movement outside the prison while awaiting trial.
Demetriou’s lawyer alleges subversion and retaliation
Lito Kariolou, the lawyer for former Senior Officer Athina Demetriou, issued a sharply worded statement denouncing the revelations as “new retaliation” and an attempt to undermine her client’s credibility through “selective leaks serving other purposes.”
Kariolou argues that the current “revelations” concern unsubstantiated claims already investigated in 2022 by Independent Criminal Investigator Achilles Emilianides. “Emilianides, according to what has been publicly stated, found nothing reprehensible against her,” the lawyer underlined. She noted that Emilianides had instead recommended the criminal prosecution of a senior police official for abuse of power.
The lawyer further claimed that the new allegations are being fuelled by a convicted inmate who allegedly sought to collaborate with investigators to secure more favourable treatment in her pending cases. Demetriou’s side claims to have submitted formal complaints and sworn affidavits to the Attorney General, already since last October, detailing alleged attempts to secure false testimony against her, as well as claims of pressure and incentives being offered to inmates.
Demetriou’s lawyer is urgently demanding that the Law Office immediately release the Emilianides report so that “the truth may shine.” The lawyer stated that the systematic targeting of her client due to previous corruption complaints, the searching for “testimonies” under questionable circumstances, and the “weaponisation of the criminal process” are incompatible with the rule of law.
Former director denies all knowledge
The lawyer for the former Director of Central Prisons, Anna Aristotelous, also issued a statement denying any involvement in the alleged incidents, which concern a period when she was in charge.
Christos Triantafyllides, representing Aristotelous, stated that the incident was “never brought to her attention” during her directorship, and she “would never knowingly permit such an incident to take place.” He said his client “categorically and unreservedly rejects such actions” and is “watching the latest developments in surprise,” claiming some parties are “artfully trying to involve her” for their own purposes.
Investigation status
The inmate’s allegations about her late-night access to an office have reportedly been corroborated by the wing’s archived records. The authorities are meticulously examining all details related to the transfers and the identity of the person she met there, investigating the possibility of serious criminal offences. Following her testimony, the inmate was reportedly placed under the witness protection programme and moved outside the prison for security reasons.
Read more: