President Nicos Anastasiades has dismissed the Chief of Police Zacharias Chrysostomou after he refused to step down following claims the force had failed to properly investigate the cases of missing women over three years who turned out to be victims of a serial killer.
The suspect has reportedly confessed serial killer to murdering five foreign women and two young children.
Anastasiades informed the chief of his decision via a letter, in which he took into account: “The apparent failure of officers to carry out their duties in investigating cases of missing persons which led to the murder cases not being solved in a timely manner, while some of the hideous crimes which shocked the Cypriot society, could have been prevented”.
Anastasiades, in his letter referred to “the principle that a head of an authority, even if he is not personally liable, is called upon to assume the responsibility of restoring the prestige of the body that he is heading, which has been damaged as a result of acts or omissions of its own members”.
He also noted that he took into consideration that his political superior had resigned over the same matter.
The chief was under immense pressure after Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou had tendered his resignation following the police’s perceived failures.
On Thursday, Nicolaou resigned after the force had come under blistering criticism for seeming indifference to the initial missing person report filed last year, failing to conduct a proper investigation that could have prevented what has become a serial killings probe. The force was blamed for institutional racism.
The Chief of Police was at the Presidential Palace on Friday morning, where he reportedly informed the President of the progress regarding the serial killings’ investigations and the administrative probe for faults in the handling of the cases.
Rumours circulating had the Chief ready to resign, following the path of his political superior.
Leaving the Presidential Palace, Chrysostomou was asked if he had resigned he said: “The President will announce his decisions”.
