Third time's a charm? Another prisoner escape rocks Cyprus police

It seems prison breaks are becoming as common as coffee breaks in Cyprus. For the third time in recent weeks, a prisoner has managed to give police the slip—this time from Nicosia General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The incident has left the Police leadership scrambling to answer some uncomfortable questions.

The latest escapee, a 39-year-old foreign national in custody for theft, pulled off his daring exit despite being guarded by two officers and wearing handcuffs. It gets better—or worse, depending on your perspective. The prisoner had been taken to the hospital after swallowing blades from a plastic razor. The same razor issued to him for personal hygiene.

The fugitive didn’t make it far. Around 11 p.m., a factory owner near the hospital alerted authorities to an "unknown person" lurking on the premises. Police swooped in and found the escapee, no longer wearing his handcuffs. How he managed that remains under investigation, with authorities now exploring whether he had a little outside help.

Police spokesperson Eleni Constantinou, speaking to "ALPHA Kalimera," assured the public that a full investigation is underway. "We are examining all the circumstances, including whether the escapee received any assistance," she said.

In a written statement, Police Chief Stelios Papatheodosiou acknowledged the glaring flaws in prisoner custody, particularly in hospitals. "There is no proper infrastructure in place to ensure secure hospitalisation," he said, adding that "significant operational problems" have already been identified since the new leadership took over.

The chief promised accountability, assuring both the public and government officials that efforts are being made to improve policing and restore a sense of security. Still, for a police force already under scrutiny, these assurances may sound a little too familiar.

Déjà vu all over again

This latest incident follows two other recent escapes. Just 20 days ago, a 49-year-old prisoner fled a private clinic in Larnaca. Authorities are surely hoping this doesn’t mark the start of a trend.

As for the man of the hour, his dramatic escape began at around 4 p.m. on January 7, when he bolted from the hospital while under police watch. A helicopter and extensive ground searches—including in Athalassa Park—were quickly mobilized. Still, it took hours to track him down, adding another layer of embarrassment to the situation.