Filenews 23 September 2023 - by Fanis Makrides
An investigation against members of the Police serving at the Aliens and Immigration Service in Paphos has been ongoing since the beginning of the week.
According to "F's" information, criminal investigators appointed by the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police (AADIPA) went last Monday to the premises where the service is housed and began collecting witness material against these police officers.
The issue, however, is not simple.
There are two parameters that make the whole affair special.
The first concerns the incident at issue under investigation. They are foreigners and present themselves as complainers about an incident in which, however, five members of the police were allegedly injured. In fact, a relevant case had been registered against them in the Pafos District Court for conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.
The second reason concerns the following. Since AADIPA is investigating a case against them, instructions were given to the Police not to proceed with any deportation proceedings.
The issue is already negatively commented by members of the Police, since the position is expressed that whenever a foreigner is liable for any offense, he will be able to overturn the negative data against him with a complaint to AADIPA.
The incident in question had occurred on October 27, 2022. The update from the Cyprus News Agency said that the five members of the YAM were discharged from Paphos Hospital after receiving first aid. It was explained that they had been attacked by five persons. It added: "The Police have arrested five persons in connection with assault, obstruction of officers in the performance of their duty, public insult, threat and resistance. According to the Police, at 12:30 yesterday afternoon, five persons between 15 and 51 years old, who are related to each other, went to the District Aliens and Immigration Offices in Paphos in order to submit a written application.
It was explained to them that these services only take place after a predetermined appointment, which they did not accept, caused concern and then allegedly attacked the on-duty police officers, who were trying to impose order. As a result, five officers suffered minor bodily injuries, police said. Damage was also caused to the personal property of two of the police officers. The five persons were arrested for flagrant offences and are in custody."
The head of the police branch of the trade union "Equality", Nikos Loizides commented to "F": "There is indeed an investigation against our members. It is disgraceful for the Republic of Cyprus that police officers are denounced by some just to rule out the possibility of their deportation."
