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A prison cell in Nicosia turned into a makeshift shop, complete with croissants, cigarettes, coffee, and prepaid phone cards, has landed a chief warden, an inmate, and the inmate’s wife in serious legal trouble.
In a coordinated early-morning raid on April 10, according to 24News' Stella Markou, police uncovered what they say was a full-blown illegal operation running from within the Central Prison. Three people were arrested under court warrants and brought before the Nicosia District Court, which ordered their eight-day detention.
The charges being investigated include bribery of a public official, abuse of power, conspiracy to commit a felony, and a list of corruption-related offenses.
Cigarettes at Triple the Price
According to court testimony, the imprisoned man allegedly ran a lucrative "cell-shop" business, offering fellow inmates basic items like croissants and cigarettes, at a hefty markup. A pack of cigarettes that normally costs €4 was reportedly sold for €12.
Authorities believe the inmate received regular deliveries of goods directly to his cell with the help of the chief warden, who was also in charge of the prison ward. Meanwhile, the inmate’s wife allegedly handled the payments, which came from prisoners’ relatives and friends and were processed through paysafe codes delivered by courier.
The profits? According to investigators, they were split between the inmate and the prison officer.
Whistleblower Triggered the Bust
The illegal enterprise began to unravel after another inmate was suddenly transferred to a different ward by the suspected warden. Upset by the move, the transferred inmate decided to speak up—revealing details about the illicit shop inside the prison.
His testimony sparked the investigation that led to Thursday’s arrests.
A Side Scandal in the Chief Warden’s Home
The scandal deepened when police searched the chief warden’s home and reportedly found official prison documents going back at least five years, documents he had no legal right to possess outside prison grounds.
Police say this part of the case is now being investigated separately.
