One was murdered in a bomb attack, unknown individuals blew up a second director’s house, a third ended up in prison, while a fourth currently faces serious criminal prosecution. This describes the fate of the Central Prisons’ directors. Most of the 18 individuals who have served as director since 1960 left under ignominious circumstances, either resigning or being forcibly removed.
The Prison Director’s chair proves more than merely “electric,” as only a handful managed to retire normally. The latest resignation of Deputy Director Constantinos Constantinides seals the rule: it is easier for someone to leave the prison service in a hurry than to finish their term. Naturally, we talk about a prison where the director must confront habitual criminals, drug traffickers, and murderers who constantly try to become the “bosses” inside the jail.
Beyond managing inmates—which is never easy—directors have consistently faced issues with the staff, their internal power structures, and the few corrupt individuals who caused tremendous harm. They also battled an unpredictable factor: an outdated, overcrowded prison where 50% of the inmates are foreigners. This gloomy reality permanently keeps the prison in the headlines.
A History of Turmoil
Onisiforos Ioannou became the first Director of Central Prisons in 1960 and remained in the post for a decade. Costas Christou succeeded him and served as the longest-tenured director, remaining in the position until 1984, including a one-year extension. Shortly after he retired, unknown individuals murdered him by planting a bomb in his car.
Iacovos Iacovides took over as the third director and held the position until his retirement in 1990. During his tenure, unknown assailants once placed a bomb outside his home. Authorities also suspended him due to the escape of Andreas Aristodimou Giuroukkis, which prompted the late Costas Papacostas, then Commander of the MMAD (police tactical unit), to assume duties for a very short period. At this time, the prisons entered a long, turbulent period marked by riots and wing clashes.
Criminologist and academic Andros Kapardis succeeded I. Iacovides in early 1990, returning from distant Australia to introduce new ideas to the prisons. Dr. Kapardis tried to implement a new operating philosophy, which senior staff seemingly did not accept, creating an extremely tense climate. He resigned and returned to his academic duties in Melbourne. In the interim, Theodoros Petasis, the prison’s most senior officer, temporarily assumed the role.
Subsequently, George Anastasiades, who came from the civil service, was appointed director on 1/8/1990 and retired on 30/11/1999. His tenure brought a relatively quiet decade to the prisons and introduced changes in how inmates were treated.
Criminologist Harris Themistocleous succeeded him and tried to implement his own management style, achieving success to a great extent. However, he clashed with the Ministry of Justice and was forced to resign two and a half years into his term. (He took office 21/12/1999 and resigned 13/6/2002).
For a brief four-month period, prison official Spyros Efstathiou took over as Deputy Director before police officer Panicos Kyriakou succeeded him on 2/10/2002. Kyriakou remained until 1/11/2004, when he retired.
From Director to Inmate
Also a criminologist, Michalis Hadjidimitriou took over the prison management on 22/11/2004. Authorities cancelled his appointment on 8/10/2007, and another police officer, Christos Mavris, assumed leadership of the Central Prisons. Mr. Mavris remained until 20/11/2007, when Mr. Hadjidimitriou returned after winning his appeal, with his appointment backdated to 17/4/2006.
On 18/12/2008, Mr. Hadjidimitriou was suspended, and the Prisons entered perhaps their most tumultuous period. His suspension lasted until 2/5/2009. His appointment, backdated to 17/4/2006, was then annulled again on 23/4/2009. He was re-appointed retroactively on 7/5/2009, then suspended again on 13/5/2009 until 11/8/2009.
Authorities investigated a criminal case against Mr. Hadjidimitriou following the escape of Antonis Prokopiou Kita, who, while hospitalised at Apollonio Hospital, was found on Stasikratous Street and involved in a shooting with the Police Drug Squad (YKAN). Then Justice Minister, the late Kypros Chrysostomides, resigned for reasons of honour, and Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas submitted his resignation.
Mr. Hadjidimitriou returned to the prison on 22/2/2012, no longer as director, but as an inmate, having been sentenced to two months in prison for charges of neglect of duty and abuse of power. Concurrently, the Public Service Commission imposed a compulsory retirement penalty on him, effective 11/11/2014. He essentially paid the price for the Police’s actions. While these events unfolded, Police Chief Inspector Christos Mavris returned as Deputy Director on 19/2/2008 during Mr. Hadjidimitriou’s suspension, remaining until 2/3/2009.
The Tryfonides Era and Suicides
On 2/3/2009, Police Inspector George Tryfonides, again from the Police force, took over the Prison Directorate as Deputy Director. Due to the prevailing atmosphere after the events involving Mr. Hadjidimitriou, the correctional facility passed through a dark period leading to a series of suicides. Mr. Tryfonides sought to impose a new, stricter philosophy on the inmates, who reacted in various ways. The culmination involved three attempted suicides, five suicides, and the rape of a young Romanian. Then President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades visited the raped inmate in the hospital, issued strong statements, and on 14/1/2014, Mr. Tryfonides resigned and returned to the Police. From January to October 2014, Eleni Vatyliotou, a senior prison officer, served as Deputy Director until she voluntarily retired.
Prison Transformation with Anna
On October 14, 2014, the Public Service Commission, following a proposal by Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou, appointed Police Inspector B’ Anna Aristotelous as Deputy Director of the Central Prisons. Senior officer Athina Demetriou, also from the Police force, joined her at the prisons.
The prisons made a 180-degree turn. The institution shifted from suicides to a human-centric model where, perhaps for the first time, authorities treated the inmate as an individual with human rights. Strict inmate measures gave way to Skype, authorities abolished the glass barriers in meetings between inmates and their relatives, and the Cypriot prisons even «starred» in a Netflix series as the opposite of “harsh” foreign prisons. It is no accident that inmates called the director “Mama Anna.” Her tenure, however, was marked by the murder of an inmate, the introduction of phones into cells, and a conflict with the Police over delayed searches.
After more than eight years in the position, Ms. Aristotelous was moved following her complaint against the then YKAN Commander Michalis Katsounotos, and after taking six months’ leave of absence. A criminal investigator examined her complaints, along with those of Ms. Demetriou, and found the officer responsible, but the Attorney General decided not to proceed with his prosecution. Upon Christodoulides’ election to the Presidency, Ms. Aristotelous took over as Head of Humanitarian Affairs, Enclaved, and Missing Persons on 2/6/2023, while simultaneously holding the position of Prison Director. Three years later, she and seven others face criminal charges for prison documents found in the home of a Chief Warden.
Police officer Ioannis Kapnoulas succeeded her as Deputy Director on 3/6/2023, but he resigned on 8/2/2024. Chief Inspector Charalambos Philippides replaced him with his appointment due to expire on 2 June 2026. Authorities removed Mr. Philippides after the escape of the hairdresser serving a life sentence. Constantinos Constantinides, again from the Police, replaced him but resigned last Tuesday. Senior Prison Officer Maria Siali temporarily assumed the position, and authorities have advertised the role.