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The state's legal department issued a firm defense on Friday regarding the presidential pardon of Charalambos Chrysanthou, a convict known as "Hamburger," clarifying that the decision is an act of state security rather than forgiveness for his crimes. The individual, who was previously sentenced for five attempted murders and rape, received the clemency after agreeing to cooperate with law enforcement. This announcement follows local media reports questioning why a person convicted of such severe offenses was released.
According to the official statement, a presidential pardon issued alongside the approval of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General does not clear a person's criminal record, nor does it overturn their conviction. Instead, officials described it as a constitutional mechanism reserved for exceptional circumstances where public safety and the administration of justice depend on insider information.
The convict entered the state's witness protection program after his sentencing to testify for the prosecution in two separate attempted murder cases. His testimony targeted a major criminal figure who is already serving a life sentence for five premeditated murders. The Legal Service pointed out that deploying inside informants is a standard global method utilized to dismantle organized crime networks, as active participants are frequently the only sources capable of exposing the truth.
The state maintains that when a witness testifies against dangerous figures, the threat extends to family members who have no involvement in the crimes. Legal officials argued that failing to protect these families would make future cooperation from informants impossible, effectively crippling the ability to prosecute high-level syndicates. As part of the protection protocol, the individual and his family may be relocated to another country.
The Legal Service concluded its statement with a warning that the pardon is strictly conditional. If the individual violates any of the terms tied to his release, the pardon will be revoked immediately, and he will return to prison to serve the remainder of his original sentence.
See a CCTV video of the 2020 shooting below.
