NEWS

Cyprus officer ‘tried to buy’ rocket launcher

A Cypriot policeman was remanded in custody yesterday after allegedly trying to buy an anti-tank rocket launcher for 5,000 euros, authorities on the island revealed. The suspect was caught in the the act of attempting to purchase the weapon after a citizen contacted Cyprus Chief of Police Michalis Papageorgiou with a tip-off. He had been under surveillance for five days before the officers made their move. Police said yesterday that it was unclear whether the light anti-tank weapon had been destined for a criminal gang to settle an underworld score. A spokesman for the force, Michalis Katsounotos, said it was determined to stamp out police corruption. «This is a serious case and any member [of the force] who places himself or herself outside the law with illegal deeds will be shown the exit door,» Agence France-Presse cited Katsounatos as telling state radio.

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