Cleaner arrested after putting urine in colleagues’ water (updated)

A 55-year-old woman from Sotira who works as a cleaner at the Famagusta state Hospital was arrested on Friday after she was caught on camera adding urine to her colleagues’ drinking water.

According to police, the suspect was caught red handed after the hospital’s management placed a surveillance camera in their efforts to discover the cause of illness affecting the establishment’s cleaners. As of last month the cleaners have been presenting symptoms including headaches, vomiting and abdominal pains.

Reports on state broadcaster CyBC said health minister George Pamporidis, asked the deputy of the state health services to make sure that the suspect is kept at a distance from her colleagues and hospital patients until investigations into the case are over.

The suspect was seen on camera pouring some sort of liquid into her colleagues’ water bottles. During a search, police found a bottle with the liquid in her pocket. Lab tests revealed that the liquid was infected with staphylococci and other germs.

The woman reportedly admitted that since July 20 she has been putting urine that she collected from the hospital’s toilets in her colleagues’ water bottles.

CyBC quoted the woman saying that she did it to revenge her colleagues who did not support her while she was on sick leave.

The woman is now expected to undergo psychological testing.

The Paralimni police station is investigating the case.