Senior drug squad cops held over Al Capone escape
By Alexia Saoulli
TWO SENIOR Drug Squad officers were yesterday arrested in connection with the escape of convicted killer Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, alias Al Capone.
Although threats of arrests had been made during the week, the news sent shockwaves through the force.
Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) deputy head Avraam Charalambous and another sergeant were arrested around lunchtime on the criminal investigators’ instructions. The two will appear in court today for their remand hearing.
More arrests are likely, said Attorney-general Petros Clerides.
“The investigations will continue until we get to the truth,” he said.
“If evidence arises that warrants arrests, there will be more arrests.”
He gave no indication whether these arrests might involve more members of the force.
The AG was speaking to reporters following a meeting under President Demetris Christofias at the Presidential Palace to discuss the ongoing Kitas investigation.
The meeting was attended by the AG, the Assistant AG Akis Papasavva, the Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas and Deputy Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou.
A second meeting is scheduled for this Monday in the presence of Justice Minister, who is currently abroad.
Speaking to reporters at Larnaca airport before boarding his flight to Prague to attend the Informal EU Meeting of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs, Justice Minister Loucas Louca confirmed the arrests.
“Yes an officer and sergeant [were arrested]… The criminal investigators asked for the arrest of these two members of the police force and the police immediately went ahead with their arrest,” he said.
The Justice Minister said he did not know what had prompted police to make the arrest.
“The evidence is in the hands of the criminal investigators. They are the competent authority and after advisement from the Attorney-general they went ahead,” he said.
Commenting on accusations made by the double rapist and murderer’s sister, Chrystalla, on live television, Louca said the police would take the necessary steps to offer her and her family protection and that it would investigate the accusations.
Kitas’ sister said she had seen DLEU officers coming and going from the Appollonion private hospital during the six months her brother had been receiving treatment for gastric reflux. She said these visits had become more frequent after their other sister had been arrested for trafficking heroin from the occupied areas last April.
Chrystalla confirmed her brother’s statement that on the early morning of December 12 he had left the hospital under the supervision of a DLEU sergeant so that he could commit a robbery to get money to buy drugs from a Turkish Cypriot drug dealer. She also said police had helped Kitas escape so that they could silence him later by killing him.
Chrystalla said she and her family had received repeated death threats if they didn’t keep the 42-year-old quiet, and yet they had not been offered police protection.
The Justice Minister reiterated that changes within the police force were imminent, but did not say whether this would involve the leadership.
“Whether people are dismissed will depend on the criminal investigators’ report.” He said if the report apportioned criminal responsibilities, it was no longer an issue of dismissal but one of prosecution.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
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