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Prison director jailed for two months over Kitas escape
CENTRAL Prison governor Michalis Hadjidemetriou was yesterday jailed for two months in connection with the escape of a convicted murderer and rapist from a private hospital in 2008.
Hadjidemetriou was found guilty on four charges related to dereliction of duty in the escape of Antonis Prokopiou Kitas, convicted to life in jail for the rape and murder of two women in the 1990s
His defence lawyer said they will appeal the verdict and the sentence.
State broadcaster CyBC reported that acting prison governor Giorgos Tryfonides has instructed that Hadjidemetriou be held at a police station and not the Central Prison.
Kitas escaped from the private clinic, after being treated there for six months for gastric reflux.
It later transpired that Kitas, who practically lived with his wife during his six-month stay, could come and go as he wished and use a mobile phone.
Kitas escaped from the window in the early hours of the morning in December 2008, while his guards were reportedly fast asleep.
A chase ensued, during which shots were fired and Kitas was injured, but the convict still managed to get away.
He was eventually recaptured around a month later.
The justice minister and police chief at the time resigned as a result of the fiasco.
Three police officers involved in the fiasco got off with a slap of the wrist.
The three had information that Kitas planned to escape from the clinic to commit a crime, and was probably armed, but gave no order to prevent his escape, nor did they inform prison authorities to take appropriate measures.
