Seven of the eight people charged over the Central Prisons leaked documents case have been placed on suspension following criminal proceedings, with complications arising over the status of former prison director Anna Aristotelous.
Until now, six of the eight had been on suspension because they were under investigation for serious criminal offences. This included Aristotelous, four prison guards, and a probationary police officer who previously worked as a prison guard.
Athina Dimitriou, former deputy prison director, had not been placed on suspension and was working in the Audit Service. The chief prison guard at whose home the documents were found is on suspension due to another criminal case he faces.
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis took action to extend the suspension of the four prison guards and the police officer—whose suspension was due to expire on Friday—until their trial. Proceedings were also initiated to suspend Dimitriou.
Audit Service examines Dimitriou’s status
The auditor general, who received a letter from police stating that criminal proceedings had been initiated against Dimitriou, contacted the Public Service Commission.
According to sources, the commission sent a letter the same day requesting certain clarifications on issues concerning Dimitriou before making a decision. Under the procedure, it must inform the affected person and give her the right to object before reaching a decision.
Aristotelous’s complicated situation
The situation is more complicated for Aristotelous because she will change status in a few days. She is currently on suspension following action by Andreas Gregoriou, director general of the Agriculture Ministry and head of personnel for the presidency.
Her suspension expires at the end of November, whilst she is due to take up her new duties as director general on 1 December.
The Cabinet is expected to decide today whether to assign her to a ministry, department or service.
Following the development with the criminal proceedings, either Gregoriou will need to request her suspension until the completion of her criminal case, or after 1 December, the Cabinet itself will need to initiate suspension proceedings if deemed necessary.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday that all actions will be taken according to the established procedure. He noted that according to the previous decision and before the latest development, Aristotelous is already on suspension.
“At this moment, if I’m not mistaken, the letter [for registration of the criminal case] was officially received today. All those briefings are being obtained so that all those decisions can be taken according to the established, defined procedure,” he said.
He also explained that Aristotelous has not yet assumed duties as director general.
Lawyers clash over case
Modestos Pogiatzis, lawyer for Assistant Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos, responded to statements made on Monday by Chris Triantafyllides, who represents Aristotelous and Dimitriou.
In a statement, Pogiatzis referred to a repeated attempt to create a dramatic narrative.
“The rhetoric about ‘cannibalism’, attacks against services and implied targeting constitute a conscious choice of escalation and polarisation, obviously aimed at shifting the discussion from the substance of the events,” the statement said.
According to Pogiatzis, the assistant police chief has no connection to the public smear attempts being made. He has repeatedly taken positions with sobriety and respect for institutions and has fully cooperated with every procedure.
Any references attempting to present him as involved in scenarios, conspiracies or supposed wars are deemed not only unfounded but dangerously subversive to citizens’ trust in justice and oversight mechanisms.
The lawyer said selective presentation of the attorney general’s decisions in a way that leaves insinuations or attempts to create shadows does not constitute legal argumentation but public targeting.
“The very serious characterisations used against the police, the attorney general and other institutional bodies do not strike Mr Katsounotos but the institutional order itself. We will not follow this downward path. We will not turn a serious ongoing procedure into a television spectacle or a personal victimisation narrative,” the statement added.
Pogiatzis emphasised that Katsounotos has nothing to fear, nothing to hide and no need for public attacks.
“Cases are resolved in courts, not in press releases and not in terms of dramatisation. Justice is not blackmailed, is not influenced and is not dragged into wars. The truth will shine through institutional channels and only through them”.
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