POLICE REPORTER OMADA NEWS #Police #Central Prisons #Ministry of Justice
He clarifies the scene surrounding the licenses of the lifer Theodoros Theofanous, known as "The Hairdresser" who escaped from the hands of the prison guards and the police, as a result of which he ridiculed the Central Prisons and Police, the heads of which were terminated by the President of the Republic, with the chain of responsibilities to stop at this point, despite the voices and criticisms that responsibilities should also be attributed to the Minister of Justice, who is the political head of the two Departments.
The escape of the lifer brought to the surface several issues concerning the Central Prisons and remained in the background for the last two years, in relation to situations, attitudes and treatment of prisoners, some of which were confirmed by the escape of the "Hairdresser", regarding the measures and approaches.
According to information in the hands of the REPORTER, the lifer for the last year and a half, i.e. under the Directorate of Kapnoullas and Filippidis, with the latter being appointed under the Ministry of Marios Hartsiotis, while both come from the ranks of the Police, was transferred outside the Prisons to his house, seven times.
First of all, it should be clarified that prisoner transfers have nothing to do with permits and they are done if a serious issue arises, such as a health issue or the funeral of a close relative.
As evidenced by the evidence in our possession, the lifer began to be transferred outside the Prisons, on a frequent basis, from March 2023. Specifically:
First
transport
:
March 2023 (under Director Kapnoullas)
Second
transfer: July 2023 (under Kapnoullas Directorate)
Exit permit
: November 2023 (under Director Kapnoullas)
Exit permit:
December 2023 (under Director Kapnoullas)
Exit permit
: March 2024 (under the direction of Filippidis)
Exit permit
: June 2024 (under the direction of Filippidis)
Exit permit:
September 2024 (under the direction of Filippidis)
As can be seen from the above data, the lifer was transferred to Paphos approximately every three months, while in one case, within a period of one month, it was transferred twice.
And all this, at the same time that the former deputy director of the Central Prisons, Haris Filippidis, had responded to a complaint submitted for a violation of human rights in relation to the delay in transporting a prisoner to the hospital to visit his mother who was critical, where stated among other things:
{...} "it is not a matter of bureaucracy, but a serious matter of security, since the release of a prisoner from prisons is only allowed under certain strict conditions, which are provided for in the relevant legislation and in compliance with all security measures".
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Detainee's Complaint for Violation of Human Rights-He asked to see his mother who is critical
Furthermore, all the transfers - leaves for life, were given at the same time that there was still a complaint before the Commissioner of Administration, in relation to the recruitment of the Police in the Prisons, with the Directorate of Correctional Institution, stating in its response in August 2024 :
{...} "and the investigations were carried out by the staff of the Prisons Department, with the assistance of the Police, due to the understaffing faced by the Prisons Department".
Also, a third complaint - in the same period - is in the frame and shows contradictions. Since on the one hand, there is a plea of understaffing, while on the other hand, the lifer was transferred every three months outside the Prisons. The case in question, which came to light last August, concerned a complaint again for a violation of a prisoner's human rights, where, among other things, it was reported to the Administrative Commissioner that:
{...} "due to overcrowding, the Directorate of Central Prisons set an appointment for a meeting with his relative in September, while it is indicated that there is only one phone booth in the entire ward."
Is the Ministry of Justice aware?
Therefore, from the above, contradictions arise in the actions of the Prisons, compared to the decisions on life imprisonment, which should be mentioned - in order for the public opinion to have a complete picture - that in previous years, it had been transferred once to his grandfather's funeral, as well as two other transfers to his home in Paphos, since his father was facing serious medical problems and there were relevant medical certificates. It is noted that this is the right of all prisoners, according to the Prisons Law, regardless of the sentence imposed on them, which continues to this day.
However, in the specific cases the necessary measures had been taken and the risks assessed, hence no problem arose, unlike the last permission granted to him to go to a party, with the Directorate even approving him 23 guests according to the oath of the Police, where as a result it was established that the lifer caught the Directorate of Prisons asleep.
Beyond that, the escape of the lifer also brought to light new complaints about furloughs to prisoners, in which the Department of Justice is also involved.
As alleged, a few weeks before the escape of the "Hairdresser", the Police informed the Ministry of Justice about the transfer of a prisoner, which for its part, according to reports, called the Directorate of Prisons for recommendations. Therefore, if the complaints are valid (some claim that there are evidence and testimonies), it follows that the Ministry of Justice was aware of the measures that were being taken or not being taken or even of some situations, however there was no reaction, until his escape lifetime.
In fact, the complaints do not stop here, however, given that the former deputy of the Prisons is now in charge of the TAE Headquarters, despite the fact that he is also under investigation for the escape, and considering that there were no other availability in the Prisons, information states that lawyers have already been informed by prisoners and are preparing to make a complaint before the Anti-Corruption Authority, presenting evidence and testimonies.
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Recording
