Eight arrested as police investigate murder at central prison (Update 3)

Police late on Friday arrested eight people in connection with the death of a 41-year-old Turkish Cypriot inmate at the central prisons in Nicosia.

Police are investigating a case of premeditated murder after Tansu Cidan was found dead in his cell after having sustained multiple injuries.

The suspects will be brought before a court on Saturday.

Local media said that the inmate was attacked on Thursday night with a sharp object.

Cybc reported that authorities identified three individuals from CCTV footage from the wing where Cidan was being housed. They had presented their IDs and were the last people who appear to enter the victim’s cell before he was found dead.

The prison said it is fully cooperating with the police who swiftly arrived at the scene, with officials currently reviewing CCTV footage at the wing.

The current line of investigation is centred on two individuals of Turkish origin and a Syrian, the announcement said, who are serving sentences for different offences and live in the same wing as the deceased.

The other five, Cybc said, are of Turkish origin, one of whom is considered a prime suspect.

Police chief Stelios Papatheodorou told reporters that: “There is a solid testimony that points to others in the same wing.”

He confirmed that the dead inmate had suffered multiple injuries.

The deceased was said to be serving a long-term sentence for “multiple crimes”, reported to be eight years for possession of a significant quantity of drugs.

It is understood that Cidan had been arrested in April for drugs possession with intent to supply.

Alphanews stated that the man had been attacked repeatedly over the past three days.

The police chief said that it currently appears unlikely that there was any involvement from persons outside the prison.

The prisons directorate said Cidan was found unconscious in his cell, with prison staff attempting to provide first aid. The officials also expressed their condolences to Cidan’s family.

Authorities took the man to Nicosia general hospital where doctors confirmed that he had sustained multiple injuries but no cause of death was immediately available.

The police report said that further details are due later in the afternoon when an autopsy would be carried out by state pathologists Angeliki Papette and Orthodox Orthodoxou.

Later on Friday afternoon, the prison issued a statement which sought to emphasise that a preliminary investigation had taken place but a motive has yet to be uncovered.

They detailed that upon the latest inspection on Thursday – which took place at 5pm – the guards saw no visible signs of injury on Cidan.

It was further stated that Cidan did not alert the guards to any potential issues.

“Around 21:15 when the staff was informed about the incident, the action protocols were activated and the necessary measures were taken,” the announcement said. “The medical officer was immediately called to the scene and at the same time efforts were made to resuscitate him until the arrival of the ambulance that transported the 41-year-old to the hospital.”

An internal investigation was also launched.

As part of the investigation, police have searched two cells at the wing.

They added that statements were being taken from other inmates to get a clearer picture of how the incident unfolded and any events leading up to it.

There will be a full review of the security measures in place and an evaluation if there was any deviation from the instructions, the prison said.

Should shortcomings by prison staff be identified then the prison will not hesitate to proceed with suspensions, they added.

“Investigations are ongoing and statements are expected to be taken from detainees and at this stage there are no indications as to the motive,” the announcement added.

“Following the instructions of the directorate, all elements and incidents that may be related to the cause of his death and whether the written instructions during the checks of the detainees were observed by the staff members on duty are being investigated,” it added.

“Any instance of violence will not be tolerated by anyone. That is why we are calling for the case to be fully clarified, for those responsible to be identified immediately and for those who participated or contributed to causing the death to be punished in an exemplary manner. The Management will take strict measures against those involved, including possible disciplinary proceedings, since we repeat and emphasise in the strongest and most categorical way, that such actions or omissions are shown zero tolerance”.

The Nicosia central prisons has been the centre of significant controversy following claims and counterclaims of corruption, rampant drug use – and even murders being orchestrated from behind bars.

Three separate investigations into the prisons have been conducted in recent months, with prison director Anna Aristotelous stating that she wants to move post.

Despite the scandals, Netflix aired a “utopian” depiction of the prison – showing bingo events and portraying a lax atmosphere.