The Supreme Court ordered the state to pay a further €3,000 in punitive damages to each of two citizens who were beaten up by members of the police force.

The citizens appealed to the Supreme Court after the court of first instance failed to award exemplary damages.

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court said the court of first instance had examined a case of illegal beating, torture and abuse of citizens by police officers on duty.

It determined a responsibility on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus for the attack against the appellants and ordered compensation for their ordeal, including aggravated compensation to restore their damaged dignity as a result of the attack and generally the behaviour of the police officers, as well as illegal arrest and detention.

The court of first instance awarded damages of €8,000 to the first appellant and €12,000 to the second.

However, the Supreme Court decided that the court should have ordered exemplary compensation and ordered that they be paid an additional €3,000 each in the form of punitive damages.