The prosecution has been given an additional month to examine missing prison document material in a significant case involving the central prisons of Nicosia.
- The prosecution has been given an additional month to examine missing prison document material in a significant case involving the central prisons of Nicosia.
During a court session on Monday, the Nicosia criminal court allowed prosecutors to sift through a trove of approximately 48,000 documents, deciding which can be shared with the defendants’ lawyers. This case centres around the unlawful removal of these documents, which are believed to have been taken illegally between November and December 2022.
Among those on trial are the former director of the prisons, Anna Aristotelous, the former vice director Athena Demetriou, five prison wardens, and a former employee who is now a policeman. The charges against them include conspiracy to commit a felony, abuse of power, violation of official confidentiality, and theft by a civil servant.
The documents in question were discovered in April 2025 at the home of a chief prison warden during a police search related to a different investigation. Many of these documents are marked as ‘confidential’ and ‘secret’, raising concerns about the nature of the information contained within.
Aristotelous was serving as the governor of the central prisons at the time when the documents were allegedly removed, leaving her post shortly after the unlawful activities took place. As the trial progresses, the eight defendants have yet to enter a plea, with their lawyers insisting on access to all material prior to making any declarations of innocence or guilt.
The trial currently remains in the discovery stage, a pre-trial process where both parties exchange information and evidence to ensure a fair trial. However, state prosecutors have yet to share all documents with the defence, citing that of the 48,000 files, around 2,500 are classified or sensitive. Some of the material includes architectural schematics of the prisons and confidential attorney-client communications.
Prosecutors have requested an additional month to allow the police to review the documents again, determining which can be classified as non-sensitive and thus suitable for discovery. They have indicated that some documents may need redaction before being provided to the defence.
During the court proceedings, several defence attorneys urged the panel of three judges to suspend the proceedings until the prosecution completes their review. Others suggested that the attorney-general should stay the prosecution and allow it to be re-filed at a later date. They argued that the prosecutors were taking too long, especially considering the case was filed in court back in November 2025.
After deliberation, the judges announced their decision to grant the prosecution an extra month, confirming that the trial would not be suspended. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 10, with the judges insisting that prosecutors are not withholding material or refusing to share it.
