Legal Fees raised for Cyprus Police Abuse

Hi everyone,

I am Jonathan, living in London. While I was on holiday in Ayia Napa in September 2021, I got picked up by the policy mentioning that "I look Chinese and I brought Covid to their country." I said that that was racist and I would make a complaint. What's happened next was haunting me every single day.

I got tied up by the police with cable tie, put in a car and driven to the middle of nowhere, being pushed and beated up for hours.

I was threated to be killed. They put me in a cell full of pees and rubbish for hours in the darkness and refused to give me water. I asked to speak to a solicitor but got told that they would beat me up if I did not shout up.

After being held for more than 8 hours, they drove me to the court and forced me to make a confession without legal representatives. They made me pay a fine and said I would be put in jail if I did not so so.

I referred the case the case to the British Embassy and a Cyprus lawyer. The British Embassy ensured that I left the country safe. The lawyer did not speak very good English. He initiatlly told me that the case was accepted and they would pay for my compensation. However, he just charged me legal fees but then ceased representing me in January 2022, citing the court did not proceed with the case.

I have suffered from PTSD and was not able to work for three months last year, running into debt since I had to pay for the legal fees in addition to accommodation and medical expenses.

I have now approached Justice Board to help proceed with the case but I could not afford the legal fees and hence started this gofundme to help cover the legal cost.