None of the police officers involved in a migration raid that ended with a Bangladeshi man’s death committed criminal or disciplinary offences, an independent investigation into the matter has ruled.
Police spokesman Christos Andreou confirmed the findings on Thursday and said the case has now been closed and sent to the legal service for filing.
Six police officers were under investigation after a complaint was filed on how the raid on April 10 unfolded. It ended with the death of 24-year-old Anisur Rahman, from Bangladesh.
Rahman jumped out of the window in the midst of the operation and fell to his instant death.
The incident prompted uproar and protests across the country amid allegations officers had barged in and broke down the door in the crack of dawn terrifying the 11 tenants crammed into the apartment.
Messages seen by the Cyprus Mail from Rahman’s flatmates paint a picture of abject fear and abuse in police hands, that prompted the 24-year-old to jump out of the window.
Another of the tenants had also jumped from the balcony and sustained serious injuries for which he was treated at Limassol general hospital.
“We were all sleeping when some strangers came to our flat and broke the door and entered. Then some of us woke up,” one of the flatmates said.
“When we heard the sound of a breaking the door, we were very scared.”
The text message continues saying the officers entered the room and attacked them. “They raised their hands on John and abused us in their language.”
“They first entered one bedroom and arrested three people. Then the second bedroom was locked, they again broke the door and tried to enter.”
Though police ardently denied they stepped out of line, an independent probe was launched which has since concluded none of the six officers involved in the operation committed any criminal or disciplinary offences.
Two officers waited outside, two were involved in the operation in Rahman’s flat, and two in the flat next door, Christou said.
All individuals were found to be living in Cyprus illegally, he added.
The findings were submitted to police and the legal service on August 6, and since then, nine of the tenants have been sent back to their native Bangladesh as part of a voluntary returns program.
Efforts are underway to send back the tenth, Christou specified.
They could not leave the country until the investigation was concluded.
“Following the findings, they have since been sent back to Bangladesh. They were begging to go back,” he noted.
Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou Lottides had also begun anindependent investigation on the matter though it was put on hold after the independent authority launched its own probe.
She said she would see what her next steps would be following the latest developments.
Rahman’s body was repatriated back to Bangladesh in late April.
Christou said the landlord had not committed any crime as the tenants were legal when they moved in.
One employer of the 11 individuals faces prosecution for illegally employing an individual residing in the Republic illegally.
