Police investigate ‘dirty cop’ threatening messages

Police say they were shocked after two special officers in custody were being accused of launching death threats against their director in Paphos, with local reports saying some of the messages were deeply disturbing.

Two special officers have been arrested in connection with a case involving threat of violence, written threats, corruption, abuse of authority, sending threatening and profanity-laced text messages.

The target of the alleged offenses including text messages was none other than the suspects’ superior, Paphos police director Nicos Pentaras, while the two men were described as special police officers of undisclosed duties.

“Pentaras, you son of a bitch, your time is up. We have been watching you for months now and you will pay for everything. Enjoy the final months at your workplace. Good luck, you will need it” a message read according to SigmaLive.

The police director, who was promoted from a senior officer position back in March, was scheduled to retire in late August, while the time when the messages started to reach him was a main focus in an ongoing investigation. Some reports suggested the first messages started around the middle of 2019, while dozens of anonymous texts kept coming over time.

“Your days are over. I swear I’m gonna kill you, I will break your arms and legs, they will have to feed you with a spoon,” another message said.

Police said the entire force was perturbed over the case and deeply disappointed with the developments, saying possible motives still unknown were a main focus of the investigation.

“This is a case that saddens us very much as it appears at first glance that two members of the police force have committed criminal and disciplinary offenses,” Police Chief Stelios Papatheodorou said.

Papatheodorou said the case, which was in the preliminary stages of the investigation, would end up in court if evidence gathered was sufficient to prosecute the suspects.

Additional reports said police were looking into whether the two suspects, who have been suspended from duties pending the investigation, could have been implicated in criminal cases which ended up in court in the recent past due to actions taken by Pentaras.

A third suspect has also been detained during the course of the investigation, while police have not ruled out the possibility of having other persons of interest and possible suspects in the case.