The death of a 23-year-old Syrian inmate found deceased in his cell at the Central Prisons in the early hours of Saturday, has been ruled a suicide after a post-mortem examination. Forensic pathologists confirmed that the death was self-inflicted, officially excluding any criminal activity.
The post-mortem was carried out on Saturday afternoon by the head of the Forensic Medicine Service, Angeliki Papetta, forensic pathologist Orthodoxos Orthodoxou, and private pathologist Marios Matsakis, who represented the deceased’s family. Pathologists confirmed that the young man’s body showed no external or other injuries, ruling out any form of abuse.
Police investigations are now focusing on the immediate circumstances surrounding the incident, including why internal protocols failed to prevent the self-inflicted death, particularly given that the young man was a father of two young children and was reportedly scheduled for release within days. Authorities are investigating how the inmate’s cellmate failed to notice the act and why the use of potentially harmful materials is permitted in the wing where the convict was held.
Police are continuing their inquiries both inside and outside the prison, examining recent incidents related to the inmate and taking statements from family members to determine if there were any signs that might have suggested such an action.
The Prisons Administration has mobilised all available psychiatrists and psychologists to speak with inmates requiring support. This latest fatality occurs as the Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, has already announced imminent changes and measures to address long-standing issues within the Central Prisons.
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