Nicosia, Cyprus. The justice ministry confirmed on Friday that a prison guard on an indefinite contract had been dismissed for dereliction of duty following an investigation into repeated failures to comply with instructions.
The ministry said the decision was based on the investigation’s findings and an assessment of all evidence presented to Justice Minister Costas Fitiris.
Investigation findings
Reports identified the dismissed employee as Giorgos Maltezos, vice president and press secretary of the prison officers’ branch of the Isotita trade union.
The ministry said investigators found repeated noncompliance with official instructions and decisions of the Prisons Department.
According to its statement, the employee had been systematically absent from duty on specific days of the week without obtaining approval from the competent authority, despite repeated written and verbal instructions.
Ministry statement
The ministry described the conduct as a serious breach of official duties, saying it affected discipline and the proper functioning of the service.
Maltezos had recently made allegations about conditions within the Prisons Department and criticised its leadership and Fitiris. The ministry’s statement did not address those allegations.
