A senior officer from Larnaca Police has been suspended following yesterday’s escape of a detained Swedish national from a private clinic.
Police said the suspended officer had instructed a special police contractor, who was also suspended yesterday, to guard the 49-year-old detainee. The Chief of Police has requested a detailed incident report and ordered a disciplinary investigation.
The detainee has been missing since 4 p.m. yesterday, with police sources saying “a manhunt is underway focusing on central Larnaca” where the private clinic is located. Police spokesperson Kyriaki Lambrianidou told philenews that “the 49-year-old was handcuffed to the bed. He detached the protective iron bar of the bed, which freed one side of the handcuffs, and managed to escape through the window to a semi-basement parking area”.
Investigators found that the special police officer assigned to guard duty was not in the room at the time of the escape. Authorities are investigating how much time elapsed before the officer discovered the detainee’s absence.
The fugitive, Hans Jonny Uven was arrested at Larnaca airport on 6 December under a European arrest warrant for financial crimes allegedly committed in Sweden between 2021 and 2024. Cyprus was intended as a transit point for his journey to another country. Three days after his arrest, on 9 December, he was hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis and chest pain.
Police have released photographs and details of Uven, who was wearing black clothes at the time of his escape. Members of the public with any information are urged to contact Larnaca CID on 24-804060, the Citizens’ Hotline on 1460, or their nearest police station.
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