Pafos Live 29 February 2024
Members of the Police and specifically members of the Aliens and Immigration Service – YAM of Pafos, along with officers of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, followed up the coordinated actions to combat illegal employment, illegal employment and undeclared work.
In an inspection operation, which took place this morning, in a building under renovation in the Paphos district, a total of 44 persons were checked, with a total of 16 employers. Notices of violations of undeclared work were served on three employers of three persons, who worked in the building, while three persons, third-country nationals, were arrested for offences of illegal employment and illegal stay in the Republic.
Specifically, two persons, men aged 28 and 23, third-country nationals, were working illegally in the building under renovation, without permission from the competent Authority, while it was also found that they remained illegally in the territory of the Republic. They were arrested for flagrant offences and taken into custody for the purpose of investigating the case. A third man, aged 27, a third-country national, who resides legally in the Republic, was also working illegally at the premises, without permission from the competent Authority. He was arrested for the offence of illegal employment. Cases of illegal employment are being investigated against their two employers.
Three other persons were found working in the building under renovation, in violation of the Law on Undeclared Work, with its officers
Ministry of Labour, to issue a notice of violations of undeclared work to their three employers. The three employers are expected to be issued notices of payment of administrative fines at a later stage.
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A 16-year-old minor was spotted by members of the Police, driving a motorcycle, having another minor, 15 years old, as a passenger. The two youths were located and intercepted for inspection by members of Group "Z" at noon yesterday. On a road in the Emba area specifically, shortly after 1.30 pm on Wednesday, the police officers of Group "Z" noticed the two minors being transported on a motorcycle, without the passenger wearing a protective helmet. After being stopped for inspection, it was found that the motorcycle was driven by a 16-year-old, with the passenger being aged 15.
The parents of the two young people were informed by the members of the Police. As it has been established from the examinations so far, the registered owner of the motorcycle is the father of the 16-year-old, with the circumstances under which the young man gained possession and drove the motorcycle being investigated.
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A new case of trafficking in persons for the purpose of labour exploitation was referred yesterday to the Nicosia Assize Court, with seven foreigners as victims. Two persons, aged 40 and 45, as well as the company of the above persons, are accused in the case.
The investigation of the case began last October 2023, following an assessment of relevant information by the Office for Combating Trafficking in Persons.
As part of the investigation, an organized operation was carried out at the premises of sheep and goat farms, where the seven foreigners were located. Initial examinations revealed signs of victimization and therefore they were transferred with the assistance of the Social Welfare Services to a safe place for protection and safety.
The victims in their statements allegedly reported inappropriate living conditions, excessive and exhausting working hours, non-payment of compensation for overtime, non-assignment of a day off and withholding of their personal documents from their employer.
The case was set for trial on 21/3/2024, while the two defendants remain free on parole.
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A 34-year-old man was sentenced today by the Famagusta District Court to three years in prison, after being found guilty after hearing a case concerning offences committed during the transport of a number of irregular migrants, by sea boat, in the area of free Famagusta last July.
Specifically, the 34-year-old was found guilty by the District Court of committing the offences, 1. facilitating the illegal entry of third-country persons into the territory of the Republic; 2. assisting a third-country person with intent and for profit; 3. transport of a person by water in an unsafe vessel, 4. forgery, 5. impersonation, as well as for an offence in relation to the law on prohibited immigrants.
The case concerned the arrival in the sea area of Famagusta, off Cape Greco, on July 15, 2023, of 47 irregular migrants, on a sea vessel approximately nine meters long. Police examinations revealed evidence against the 34-year-old, who was also the boat's navigator.
He was arrested on the same day, while upon completion of the police examinations, the Police proceeded to the immediate registration of the case, for trial by the Famagusta District Court.
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Pafos Press
An incredible scene unfolded last night around 21:30 in a place in Agios Georgios of Alamanos. According to the first information, around 30 people were gathered in a place that used to be used as a tavern and was opened for the needs of the said party.
Around 21:30 and while these people were having fun, 4 people wearing hoods and holding weapons burst into the place. In particular, they had in their possession a pistol and a short barrel. After entering the venue they forced everyone present to lie on the ground, tied their hands with cables and fired several shots into the air.
Information indicates that the patrons as well as the perpetrators were Russians.
They grabbed car keys, mobile phones, watches and wallets and then fled. Some of the patrons who remained hostage for a few minutes tried to resist and were attacked by the perpetrators. The two patrons are hospitalized and have serious head and nose injuries. Another patron followed the perpetrators and found a bag with part of the stolen goods nearby.
According to RIK, the stolen property is estimated at around €20,000.
The case is being investigated by the TAE Limassol.
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Filenews
Police officers spotted a 14-year-old in free Famagusta driving a vehicle as part of a campaign conducted over the last two days.
According to the Police, a 14-year-old man was reported, who was driving a vehicle without holding a driver's license and without being covered by a safety certificate, while the circumstances under which he was found driving the vehicle in question are being investigated by the Paralimni Police Station.
A total of 65 traffic complaints were made within 24 hours following a coordinated campaign by the Famagusta Police Authority.
Specifically, in the context of a campaign to reduce road collisions conducted between the dates 28/2/24-29/2/24, members of the Famagusta Traffic Police made 65 traffic complaints, which mainly concerned exceeding the speed limit, using a mobile phone, driving without a driver's license, without a registration certificate, without a safety certificate, violations in relation to the non-use of seat belts by driver and passenger, infringements relating to vehicle wheel covers without the minimum ribs, failure to signal and offences relating to vehicle lamps.
Also, 12 alcohol tests were carried out and 4 cars as well as 2 motorcycles were seized.
As part of the checks, two foreigners aged 22 and 35 were identified and arrested, who were found to be staying illegally on the territory of the Republic and a procedure for issuing deportation decrees will follow.
In a statement, the Famagusta Police Authority "reminds the public using the road network that speeding, driving with the use of a mobile phone and under the influence of alcohol and drugs are the main causes of fatal and serious road collisions".
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With investigations and examinations ongoing in relation to a complaint under investigation by the 21-year-old from Ukraine who claims that she was raped by two young men, the Limassol Crime Detection Department proceeded to arrest the second suspect, aged 19, who was wanted.
The young man was brought today before the Limassol Court which ordered his detention for a period of 5 days. Under questioning, the 19-year-old denied any involvement in the complainant's accusations. A 20-year-old man is also in custody in the same case, allegedly the tenant of an apartment where, according to the complaint, the offences under investigation were committed.
It is recalled that the complainant in her complaint claimed that she had intercourse against her will with the two suspects in the 20-year-old's apartment. The alleged rape, according to her, took place last Friday night and the young woman went to the police on Saturday afternoon where she reported the case.
According to the facts, the 21-year-old went for drinks with the two persons and then went to the 20-year-old's apartment. They then appeared to have consumed alcohol, with the complainant claiming she did not remember what followed, saying, however, that at some point she realised she was naked and that she had been raped by the two persons. Before the alleged rape, she said she had posted videos on social media of the 20-year-old suspect holding a pistol and firing into the air. She then claimed that after being raped, she was threatened by the suspect with that pistol to delete the video, which she denied.
Searches of the 20-year-old suspect's apartment found several items, including pills, which were taken for testing.
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A large quantity of sparklers and fireworks was found yesterday by the Police in Nicosia.
Specifically, following an evaluation of information received by the Police, members of the Strovolos Police Station conducted a search yesterday morning in an open area in the Strovolos area.
During the search, cardboard boxes containing 52 hand sparklers, 24 torches and 32 fireworks were located and received.
The items found were handed over to the Police Pyrotechnics Branch for destruction.
The Strovolos Police Station is investigating the case.
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A reversal in the case of Turkish Cypriot lawyer Akan Kursiat, as the prosecution's spokeswoman said that the British man who was the only prosecution witness implicating him in the case of usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, has died.
After this development there is no evidence against Kursat, as the testimony of the deceased was the only one.
The Attorney General is therefore obliged to stay the present criminal case.
It is recalled that Kiursyat was arrested in Rome on New Year's Eve and extradited to the Cypriot authorities with his consent, while he is free on parole.
The case for which he was accused concerns the usurpation of land belonging to the Republic but also to Greek Cypriots in occupied Klepini.
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A citizen who attempted to escape from the Limassol District Court was stopped by the police when he was informed that he would be arrested for arrest warrants pending against him for unpaid amounts of money related to maintenance amounting to €15,000.
According to initial information, the citizen in question went to court for a traffic accident case, which is pending against him.
Members of the Police identified this person, as arrest warrants were pending against him.
The citizen, when he realized that he would be put in handcuffs, ran and tried to escape from the exit of the building.
Immediately, members of the Force intercepted him, with the man falling to the ground.
The Court was upset and the person in question reportedly had a mild epileptic episode.
Police officers helped the citizen recover, and although an ambulance was called, it was not needed when it arrived at court.
