Police issued arrest warrants yesterday for five individuals, including four Central Prison staff members and one special constable, in connection with the theft of confidential and classified documents from the correctional facility.
The suspects comprise four women and one male prison warden who served either in the prison archives or positions near management during the period when the documents appear to have been moved.
The special constable was seconded from police to serve at the prison in a specialist role for a period of time.
Police initially arrested one prison staff member while on duty, subsequently detained two other individuals outside the prison, and arrested the remaining two late in the afternoon.
All arrested individuals are expected to appear in court today for remand hearings to facilitate investigations.
Investigation details
CID Headquarters investigators, who have been methodically examining the case for six weeks, have identified evidence and testimonies indicating how and when the documents were moved, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros.
The case involving classified and confidential prison documents, which also concern police and some Justice Ministry matters, came to light during investigation of a complaint by a convicted person that a specific prison warden was involved in operating a kiosk within a prison wing.
During a search of that warden’s home, investigators discovered piles of documents in a room, including originals that should have been archived at the prison or police headquarters.
A CID Headquarters investigation team began examining how the documents ended up in the warden’s possession, along with personal items belonging to a prison official.
The individual under questioning did not cooperate with investigators, whilst searches were conducted both inside and outside the correctional facility. Authorities believe the warden possessed the documents for safekeeping purposes.
Witness testimonies
Document senders were called to headquarters for identification of materials that have been classified according to their security level and the service they belong to. These individuals confirmed they had indeed sent the documents to specific recipients.
Former police chiefs gave testimony, whilst a former Justice Minister was also to be called. Additionally, testimonies were provided by individuals who had served in prison management positions regarding whether they found archives covering specific time periods.
According to information obtained, the documents allegedly left the prison during a period of management changeover. Testimonies suggest their removal occurred at night.
Prison CCTV systems have been examined and testimonies taken from wardens serving as tower guards to report if they noticed anything unusual.
Investigators consider it certain that other individuals are involved in the case, making further developments within coming days possible.
The warden at whose home the documents were found was not arrested as this had occurred at the initial stage and re-arrest was not deemed necessary.
Court decision for prison warden
Yesterday, the Court of Appeal overturned a District Court of Nicosia decision dated April 17, 2025 to keep a prison warden in custody regarding conspiracy, corruption, bribery and other charges related to the kiosk complaint within the prison wing.
Judges C.V. Charalambous, D.M. Papadopoulou and M.G. Pikis stated in their decision that the charges the warden faces concern two separate cases where the appellant, within Central Prison whilst serving as a warden, allegedly received monetary amounts of €600 (October 2024) and €500 (between October 2024 and 10 April 2025) from convicted person P.C. as payment, enabling the convicted person to purchase products from accused person 2 (also a convicted person) within Wing XX of Central Prison.
The testimony against the appellant comes from a statement given by a convicted person at Central Prison.
“With all respect, the first instance court’s approach was erroneous. There is complete absence of testimony that would justify the risk of witness tampering. Case law is illuminating regarding the nature such testimony may assume,” the Court of Appeal stated.
The court noted the first instance court erroneously concluded witness tampering risk existed due to the appellant’s alleged influence over involved persons in his capacity as prison warden and his connections within Central Prison due to long service.
“The risk is objectively eliminated by the appellant’s three-month suspension, as he no longer exercises prison warden duties and is outside Central Prison premises,” the judgement stated.
The Court of Appeal also addressed flight risk concerns, stating excessive importance was given to the seriousness of offences based on statutory penalties (7-14 years imprisonment) without proper consideration of the specific case circumstances.
“Without ignoring the gravity of offences for which he is charged as a prison warden, the severity of the imposed penalty is not of such nature and extent that would drive someone to abscond or make securing their court presence impossible with appropriate bail conditions,” the court ruled.
The Court of Appeal ordered the warden’s release under the following conditions:
- Present a banker’s draft of €20,000 to the Registrar or deposit €20,000 into the Court of Appeal’s bank account
- Surrender all travel documents to police
- Be placed on the exit prohibition list from the Republic and transit to occupied areas
- Report to Morfou Police Station three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) between 6:00pm-10:00pm
