When your house collapses you don’t do structural adequacy studies

Statement by AKEL MP and Head of the Justice Sector of AKEL

 

26 November 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The reaction of the Minister of Justice and Public Order Mrs. Drakou to the public statements of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, but also regarding what has been authoritatively been published in the media – once again – about the dangerous situation inside the Central Prison, is well short of the circumstances. When your house collapses you don’t carry out structural adequacy studies. Mrs. Drakos’ statement that she will look into and see how she will act is indicative of her real intentions.

The government ruling forces do not want – in this case too – to stand up to corruption. They did the same thing with the ‘golden’ passports scandal. They are doing the same thing with the illegal activities of former Israeli agents because they themselves are part of the problem.

AKEL has expressed its position publicly and been warning for years about the real situation that exists the penitentiary. We spoke long ago about an attempt to cover up and embellish the real situation of what’s going on, which is extremely dangerous. Last July we called on all those co-responsible to come forward instead of hiding. We tabled the matter for discussion in the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee seeking to hold everyone to account in an attempt to initiate a genuine clean-up, assign responsibilities, promote catharsis and deliver punishment. We are concerned about the power games and entanglement/interwoven interests between the Police and the Central Prison Board. We demand a full investigation be carried out and transparency.

All this should have triggered the political reflexes of the government ruling forces. Instead, they are trying to manage what resembles a cover-up. If the responsible Minister does not act immediately, the responsibility will inevitably be passed on to her and the Anastasiades-DISY government.

Yesterday, although selective in their handling of other findings where they imposed a blackout (e.g. on the Cooperative Bank and black spy van cases) the Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General referred, among other things, to an uncontrolled and extremely dangerous situation that creates risks to people’s safety and lives both inside and outside the Prison with serious implications for public safety and order.

We wonder, what exactly does the Minister of Justice want to look at?