Murderer behind bars gives controversial podcast interview

In a bizarre and controversial turn of events, Loy Dejan, a notorious four-time murderer, has made waves by giving an online interview from his prison cell, further igniting concerns over the rampant use of mobile phones inside Cyprus' Central Prison.

Dejan, who was sentenced to four life sentences for his involvement in the shocking quadruple murder in Ayia Napa on June 23, 2016, recently appeared on Not Guilty TV, a YouTube channel. In his interview, he claimed he was hired as a bodyguard, and while recalling the fateful day of the murders, he spoke of hearing two gunshots and discovering businessman Fanos Kalopsidiotis lying on the ground with two bullet wounds to his chest. Dejan, however, insists that he was wrongfully convicted, claiming there was no evidence linking him to the killings.

The 2016 murders, which also claimed the lives of police officer Elias Hadjieftimiou, his wife Skye, and the shooter Yani Vogli, rocked the nation. Dejan, who was Kalopsidiotis' guard, was found to have played a pivotal role in the deaths by informing the shooters of Kalopsidiotis’ whereabouts, a detail revealed in the court’s final decision. Dejan, according to the ruling, had deliberately taken a break before the killings, only to reappear after the crime had been carried out.

While the details of Dejan’s podcast have raised eyebrows, it's his presence on the airwaves from a life sentence that has stirred controversy. This marks another troubling development in a series of incidents highlighting how mobile phones, banned within prison walls, continue to be smuggled in and used by inmates.

Just last year, two major crimes were orchestrated from within the Central Prison using these illicit mobile devices. One such case involved Dimitris Mamalikopoulos, a lifer who communicated with an accomplice outside prison to arrange two attempted murders and an arson attack at the Limassol courthouse. Court findings confirmed that Mamalikopoulos was able to direct the attack on the Ayia Napa cafeteria, with shooters receiving instructions via mobile phones while still inside the prison.

These incidents have raised significant concerns about the prison’s ability to control communication channels for dangerous convicts. The use of mobile phones by inmates for criminal activities has even been confirmed by the Supreme Court, which found that Mamalikopoulos used his phone to instruct his associates to take crucial documents from the courthouse, including those related to his own legal case.

For Loy Dejan, the podcast appearance is the latest in a troubling pattern of incidents that have made the Central Prison management look like they’re losing the battle to control the technology smuggled in by prisoners. While Dejan has praised the prison guards for their work and acknowledged their efforts to help him, the fact that he's able to communicate freely through a medium like a podcast is a red flag for prison officials.

The ongoing issue of mobile phones in the Central Prison is not just a concern for the security of the institution but also for public safety, as these devices allow dangerous criminals to continue orchestrating violence and illegal activities from behind bars.

With the rise of new media platforms like podcasts and video interviews, the question arises: Should a lifer, particularly one involved in such a high-profile and gruesome crime, be given a platform to broadcast his story while still incarcerated? This latest incident is sure to fuel further debates about prison control, inmate rights, and the growing influence of technology in criminal activities.