Independent criminal investigation opened into allegations against seven police officers

Nicosia, Cyprus. An independent criminal investigation has been opened into allegations by Ioanna Fotiou, publicly known as Annie Alexui, against seven police officers. Fotiou said Aadipa, the watchdog investigating complaints against police, informed her on Friday that two criminal investigators had been appointed.

Investigation appointments

Fotiou said she was preparing to consult her lawyers on how she would give evidence and expressed a preference to do so online.

The complaints were first submitted in April after Justice Minister Costas Fitiris referred the material to the independent authority. The authority subsequently informed Attorney-General George Savvides and requested the appointment of an independent criminal investigator.

Allegations against officers

Fotiou has accused seven officers of misconduct and corruption, but has repeatedly said the complaints submitted so far represent only part of the material she claims to possess.

“There are other police officers about whom I have much more serious material,” she said.

Among the senior officers she has publicly accused is Deputy Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos. Her allegations against him concern what she describes as the protection of criminal interests and failures to properly investigate serious cases.

Katsounotos has previously been the subject of separate allegations by former Central Prisons director Anna Aristotelous, who accused him of abusing his authority and colluding with a convicted prisoner to obtain compromising material against her.