Police confirmed on Saturday that the death of a young Pakistani man found in Strovolos is connected to a police shooting incident near Potamia, where officers fired shots while attempting to stop and arrest suspects.
Police investigations revealed the deceased was wounded by a service weapon, authorities said.
The incident occurred on January 6 when members of the Anti-Poaching Unit were conducting a motorised patrol in the Potamia area and spotted three vehicles moving through the buffer zone.
When officers attempted to stop the vehicles, one driver accelerated towards a police officer who had exited the patrol car. The officer fired at the vehicle’s tyres, but the driver, along with a second vehicle, managed to escape into the buffer zone.
The third vehicle also accelerated towards the police officer after being signalled to stop. The officer managed to re-enter the patrol vehicle before the suspect’s car collided with its front. Officers fired at this vehicle’s tyres, but the driver also escaped into the buffer zone.
The case has prompted an investigation into the role of the medical examiner who conducted the initial autopsy. The examiner had initially ruled out foul play at the scene where the 24-year-old Pakistani man was found.
However, four days later, during a post-mortem examination, a 9mm bullet was discovered in the deceased’s body, with an entry wound on the right side of his back.
The Ministry of Health has requested a police report on the incidents to examine the circumstances under which the state medical examiner, who operates under the ministry’s supervision, conducted the investigation.
Investigators also discovered a suitcase containing numerous documents relating to foreign nationals during the death investigation.
The documents are being evaluated by the Nicosia Criminal Investigation Department, with authorities investigating potential links to organised illegal immigration networks.
