The Permanent Criminal Court of Nicosia has convicted a prisoner of premeditated murder and two prison guards of manslaughter in connection with the death of Turkish Cypriot inmate Tansu Cidan at the Central Prison on 27 October 2022.
The three-member judicial panel found Veyzi Badur guilty of premeditated murder, whilst two prison guards were convicted of manslaughter in the high-profile case.
Badur, the main defendant, was convicted of premeditated murder after evidence showed he tortured Cidan in his cell for two days using horrific methods and inconceivable means, according to witness testimony.
Two prison guards faced manslaughter charges for causing Cidan’s death through criminal negligence, having failed to conduct necessary checks and implement required safety measures within their duties, including secure custody, protective measures and medical care.
A third prison guard was charged alongside the others for causing death through reckless, careless or dangerous conduct.
The fourth defendant, Mohamadian Reza, faced charges of possession and supply of narcotics.
The second and third defendants, Kagya Dergka and Abdulkarim Abdulkarim, had already pleaded guilty to charges they faced in the case and served as prosecution witnesses.
The verdict concludes a case that has drawn significant attention to conditions and oversight at Cyprus’s Central Prison facility.
