The 18-year-old defendant hid in an abandoned building in downtown Larnaca after escaping from the Larnaca District Court, which put police authorities on high alert. This was revealed on the Alpha News program by Michalis Michael, an officer with the Police Headquarters Press Office, explaining that the police received a tip from a member of the public regarding the 18-year-old’s hiding place. Members of the Mounted Police immediately rushed to the scene, where they located him and handcuffed him.
An administrative investigation into the case is currently underway, ordered by Police Chief Themistos Arnaoutis, regarding the circumstances of the young defendant’s escape from the police van that had transported him to court to continue proceedings against him in connection with a theft and burglary case.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
What are the rules regarding handcuffs?
Mr. Michael explained that, according to the protocol for transporting detainees, everyone is handcuffed except for certain exceptions, which include: the injured, the elderly, and minors.
According to reports, investigators are closely examining footage from a closed-circuit surveillance system installed in the courthouse area, which allegedly shows that the door to the “cage” was open, the 18-year-old was not handcuffed, and no police officer was present at the scene.
The timeline of the escape
The 18-year-old, along with other detainees, had been transported around 9 a.m. yesterday morning in the “police van” from the holding cells at the Aradippou Police Station to the courthouse. Around 12:15 p.m., after his court appearance on charges of theft and burglary had concluded, he was taken back to the police “van,” where the other detainees were also being held. There, he managed to escape and flee the scene on foot.
“High-risk” individual
According to reports, the 18-year-old defendant is classified by authorities as a “high-risk” individual as in November 2024 he was involved as the driver of a stolen vehicle in a fatal accident in which his 18-year-old female passenger lost her life. He fled the scene, was arrested, convicted, and served a prison sentence at the Central Prison. Two of his brothers, who were convicted in criminal cases, are also in the correctional facility.
*Main photo: CNA Archive
