Officials have said the corruption surrounding police issues is essentially a large part of the problem that inhibits their work, during a Parliamentary Institutions Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou, a representative from Cyprus’ attorney general’s office Elena Kleopa, and the Deputy Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou, took part in the committee session, where issues with the police and corruption were discussed, SigmaLive learned.
Nicolaou has said during the meeting that he believes corruption issues and leaks that are given to the media and/or Cyprus’ criminal underworld result in damage to serious cases that are examined by authorities.
The Justice Minister has mentioned that the Ministry had sent proposals to the political parties to wipe out corruption, which detailed the creation of an Internal Monitoring Committee in the police and lifting the confidentiality of personal communications in the force. A ban on confidentiality, he has said, would be made under strict prerequisites.
Revealing information that involves the investigations, he said, could create significant problems, in the continuing investigation and in the trial process. Nicolaou mentioned that the element of surprise could be lost if leaks happen, in regards to other individuals that might testify on a case. He added that there could be intense reactions, which could harm the presumption of innocence.
Nicolaou has said that the problem is chronic and is not only witnessed among the ranks of the police, but everywhere.
Attorney General has thought to prosecute journalists
Kleopa, who attended the committee session as the representative from the Attorney General’s office, has said that in the past the Attorney General has encountered a dilemma during serious cases – where leaks to the media had damaged the examination process – whether or not to prosecute journalists. She added, however, that after taking into account the freedom of speech, the Attorney General decided against taking such action.
She mentioned that the Attorney General’s office does not leak investigation and testimony details, unless it wants to “burn itself”.
In article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to freedom of expression is outlined, which includes a clause on the media.
Specifically, the article says, “The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.”
The Interpol ‘gaffe’ and the delayed transfers
Committee members also discussed the ‘gaffe’ made by Interpol during the investigations on the quadruple Ayia Napa murder.
Specifically, during investigations, it was revealed by Phileleftheros newspaper that a Cypriot Interpol agent had accidentally communicated with one of the Serbian assassins, who were selected to commit the shooting, which ended up being committed by two othe suspects.
MP Irene Charalambidou had asked the Justice Minister if the officer – who made the mistake – was transferred after the incident was leaked to the media.
Nicolaou had answered that the officer was transferred when it was seen fit and not after the leaks to the media.
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