Greek flag lowered at Papadopoulos’ grave

Published on January 9, 2010

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A police officer examines the flag

ALMOST a month after the body of former President Tassos Papadopoulos was dug up and stolen, a Greek flag at the grave was removed from the flagpole, authorities said yesterday.

Police said the act was discovered at around 8 am on Friday by a former member of Papadopoulos’ security detail.

An eyewitness said a Cypriot flag at the site had been left untouched.

Police said the flag was removed from the flagpole after cutting the rope.

The rope was missing though the flag was found near the cemetery intact.

Papadopoulos’ widow Photini, visited the site where she was briefed by the police about the incident.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos did not immediately link the flag incident to the theft of Papadopoulos’ body, which remains unresolved almost a month later.

He said however that the possibility of the two being connected was under investigation.

Police cordoned off the scene and scoured the area for clues, taking the flag for further examination.

Katsounotos said a police guard had been placed at the site after the desecration of the grave but was lifted after a long while and replaced with frequent patrols.

A day before the anniversary of his death on December 12, 2008, Papadopoulos’ corpse was removed from its casket overnight in torrential rain after the culprits shifted a 250-kg granite slab and dug through several feet of earth.

It was a well-organised act that police believe was executed by a group of people who apparently did not leave any clues behind.