A security guard who stabbed a colleague at the Kofinou Migrant Reception and Accommodation Centre after being criticised over his work has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court.
The court handed down the sentence on the morning of 7 April. The 31-year-old defendant, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and making threats, carried out the attack on 14 August 2025.
The defendant was on duty at the centre’s entrance from 19:00 that evening, working for a private security company, when a colleague criticised him about his post and the two argued.
The defendant then went to the company supervisor’s office, where he shouted about various work-related grievances, before leaving the premises by car.
Shortly after 23:00, he returned. He parked in front of the guardhouse where the victim was on duty and shouted at him to come outside.
When the victim did, the defendant told him: “Since you said I’ve been working for six days and doing whatever I want, I’ve come to send you to God.” He then took out an 11cm knife and stabbed him.
Another guard who witnessed the attack called for help alongside the victim. Police officers on duty at the centre rushed to the scene, at which point the defendant fled in his car.
The victim was taken to hospital, where his wound was sutured. He was kept in for 24 hours.
The defendant subsequently drove to Kofinou Police Station, where he told officers he had stabbed the guard and was arrested.