Sixteen prison officers have been suspended from duty as Cyprus's Central Prison grapples with staff shortages, ongoing criminal investigations and persistent efforts to combat the smuggling of drugs and mobile phones into the facility.
According to official figures obtained by Politis from the Justice Ministry, all 16 officers are currently suspended while serious criminal allegations against them are being investigated or court proceedings remain pending.
The suspensions, combined with a high number of staff absent on sick leave, are placing additional pressure on prison operations.
At the same time, authorities have intensified inspections both within the prison and during inmate visits and transfers, as the introduction of drugs and mobile phones remains one of the institution's most significant challenges.
In recent years, the approach adopted by authorities has become considerably stricter, with services investigating not only formal complaints but also serious indications or suspicions of misconduct.
Suspensions
According to the Justice Ministry, the 16 suspended prison officers are alleged to be involved in corruption-related conduct or other serious criminal offences.
Among the cases that led to officers being removed from duty are:
- Three prison officers suspended as part of a criminal investigation into the introduction or attempted introduction of drugs into the prison.
- One prison officer suspended in connection with a case involving the introduction of a mobile phone into the prison.
- Four prison officers removed from duty because of their alleged involvement in the high-profile case concerning prison documents found at the home of a correctional officer.
The indictment in that case also includes the prison's former director and former deputy director.
Intensified checks and inventive smuggling methods
Authorities are also placing significant emphasis on operational searches and efforts to prevent prohibited items and substances from entering the prison.
Speaking recently before parliament, Deputy Director Maria Siaili said mobile phones and drugs are discovered and seized on a daily basis.
"A great effort is being made to reduce the problem as much as possible," she said.
Visitors to the prison are also subject to strict controls.
Searches have uncovered a variety of inventive methods used to try to smuggle prohibited items, particularly mobile phones and narcotics.
In one case, a visitor allegedly attempted to bring 14 mobile phones into the prison hidden inside a household refrigerator.
In another, two mobile phones were discovered concealed inside a pair of shoes.
In a third case, a visitor allegedly tried to introduce drugs hidden inside a hair bun.
In another incident, an inmate was caught attempting to bring a mobile phone back into the prison after returning from court. The case led to the arrest of a lawyer accused of supplying the device.
More recently, authorities discovered a large number of mobile phones after objects were thrown into the prison grounds from the occupied areas.
New prison director expected
The Public Service Commission is expected to select a new director of the Central Prison before the end of the year.
A total of 37 applications have been submitted for the position.
Menogeia facility to ease overcrowding
Overcrowding is not confined to the prison system.
Severe congestion is also being reported at police holding cells, where remand and convicted prisoners are being housed in facilities that have long exceeded their intended capacity.
According to repeated complaints, detainees have been forced to sleep on floors, while detention conditions have raised concerns relating to hygiene, safety and human rights.
In an effort to tackle overcrowding and amid concerns that Cyprus could face condemnation by the Council of Europe over detention conditions, the Justice Ministry has decided to use facilities at the Menogeia Detention Centre as temporary holding cells.
At a recent meeting chaired by Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytiris, instructions were issued for all necessary works and operational arrangements to be expedited so that the facilities can become operational by mid-September.
The Menogeia Pre-Removal Detention Centre, which is no longer used to hold irregular migrants following their transfer to the Limnes Centre, will be used exclusively for the temporary detention of persons in police custody.
Authorities expect the move to provide immediate relief to overcrowded police detention facilities and improve detention conditions.
