Pafos Live 9 February 2024
A total of twenty-five (25) persons driving vehicles without holding a valid driving license were identified and reported during a coordinated control operation, conducted by members of Team "Z", the Limassol Police Directorate and the Special Motorcycle Squad, of the Traffic Headquarters. During the inspection operation, twelve (12) cars and five (5) motorcycles were seized during the police examinations.
Twelve (12) persons were specifically reported, after they were detected by the members of the Police driving vehicles without holding a driving license, while another thirteen (13) persons were reported, after they were found driving vehicles, having an expired student driving license. At the same time, twenty (20) persons were reported, after they were found driving vehicles without being covered by an insurance certificate.
In relation to the vehicle documents, five (5) persons were reported, who were found driving vehicles for which there was no valid certificate of suitability – MOT, ten (10) persons, who were found driving vehicles that were registered with the Department of Road Transport as immobilized, as well as thirteen (13) persons, who were driving vehicles without a valid registration certificate.
There were also fifteen (15) complaints about vehicle lights, ten (10) complaints about worn vehicle tires, ten (10) complaints about tinted car windows, and eight (8) complaints about vehicles that did not have registration plates.
Among other traffic violations detected and reported during checks, 67 complaints for failure to use a belt are worth mentioning
safety and protective helmet for motorcyclists, 42 complaints for using a mobile phone while driving, 22 complaints for traffic sign violations, as well as 17 complaints for illegal parking.
Finally, nine (9) more complaints were made for violations by drivers of a personal mobility device – scooter, while one (1) driver was found positive in a test for driving under the influence of alcohol and two (2) drivers were found positive in a preliminary test for driving under the influence of drugs. The coordinated traffic control operation took place throughout yesterday, as part of actions to prevent serious and fatal road collisions, suppress traffic offences, and increase safety on the road network. A total of 286 traffic violations were detected and reported
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Pafos Press
The Paphos Police arrested a 36-year-old man on Thursday in Paphos to facilitate investigations for a case under investigation, drunkenness, causing concern, public insult, resisting legal arrest, as well as refusing to provide a sample for an alcohol and drug test.
According to the Assistant Police Director of Paphos Operations, Michalis Nikolaou, on 8.2.24 at 17:20 in the afternoon, members of the Pegeia police station went to a specific point in Pegeia following information that a traffic accident had occurred.
At the scene, they found that two vehicles were involved in the traffic accident with drivers who were British permanent residents of Cyprus aged 36 and 65. The 36-year-old told KYPE that Mr. Nikolaou showed obvious symptoms of drunkenness and refused to cooperate, caused concern and insulted the members of the Paphos ADE.
He was subsequently arrested for the above spontaneous offenses. He then resisted lawful arrest, resisted, pushed the officers and used force appropriate to the circumstances to handcuff him and arrest him. He further refused to provide a sample for alcohol as well as for a drug test. The 36 year old is in custody.
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Filenews
Following searches carried out on premises managed by a specific person, a huge quantity of smuggled tobacco products was identified and seized. In order to understand the dimensions of the case, it is sufficient to take into account that the customs burden of these tobacco products alone amounts to €105.814,82.
A 21-year-old man has already been detained on the basis of a court order, while at least two other people allegedly related to the case have given statements to officials of the Department of Customs. One of them is the father of the first, aged 42. He was arrested yesterday and is expected to be released today.
The products were found in a café run by the suspect with his father, as well as in two warehouses allegedly run by the latter. "F" reports that it is believed that they originated in Turkey and that they were channelled to the Republic of Cyprus through the area located between the villages of Potamia – Louroutzina – Agios Sozomenos. Boxes of detained tobacco products, according to information in our newspaper, are marked "Made in Turkey". It should be noted that based on the data surrounding the case, as well as relevant indications, the Department of Customs and Excise does not seem willing to make an out-of-court settlement in the case.
Regarding the quantity of products, the Department of Customs and Excise found tobacco for cigarettes weighing more than 10,000 grams, more than 380 boxes (380x200 pieces) of heated cigarettes, about 1,690 boxes of cigarettes (1,690x200 pieces), 6,5150 grams of hookah tobacco, 1,275 grams of pipe tobacco and 133 pieces of sex toys.
The above quantities were found in a village café in the South of Nicosia managed by a 42-year-old man and his 21-year-old son, as well as in two warehouses (one in the cafeteria and the other in a house), which are allegedly managed by the latter.
The 21-year-old had been arrested at the scene and on Wednesday he was taken to the Nicosia District Court, where a customs officer requested his detention for a period of eight days. The lawyer of the 21-year-old, Thanasis Athanasiou, objected to the number of days and spoke questioning the volume of investigative work (20 statements had been cited by the customs). Eventually the Court issued a detention order for a period of four days.
Besides, yesterday the 42-year-old father of the 21-year-old arrested and another person, who had been identified by customs officers during last Tuesday's investigations and had fled, presented themselves yesterday with their lawyer, Thanasis Athanasiou, at the Customs Department. The 42-year-old is reportedly expected to be released today. It should be noted that a total of six offences are being investigated against the 21-year-old suspect. If a case is registered against him, he could face up to three years in prison if convicted.
The offences relate to possession of duty-free tobacco products, fraudulent evasion of duty and VAT, evasion of excise taxes, violation of a prohibition provision related to the Green Line Regulation and finally, possession and marketing of goods infringing intellectual property rights.
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A new case of internet fraud is being investigated by the Police, following a complaint by a 73-year-old man in Nicosia.
According to the complaint, between the dates 24/10/2023 – 06/02/24, the 73-year-old was deceived by unknown persons, online, and after being convinced of the authenticity of cryptocurrency exchange websites, in his attempt to invest, he sent the total amount of money of approximately €480,500.
Specifically, the complainant, after chatting with strangers, urged him to create an account on a cryptocurrency exchange and following their instructions, transferred the above amount of money from his bank account, after converting it into cryptocurrencies, to an electronic wallet of a fake website, which falsely presented itself as an authentic cryptocurrency exchange website.
The Cybercrime Division is investigating the case.
On the occasion of this new case, the Police remind the public that every transaction over the internet carries risks and must always be done with great care.
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The 25-year-old Bulgarian man and his 24-year-old wife, who were arrested on suspicion of breaking into an office space of the church of Agia Paraskevi in the center of Geroskipou, were placed in five-day detention by decision of the Pafos District Court.
The couple were arraigned in court on Wednesday night after the 25-year-old, who was wanted after his wife had been located and arrested the previous day at their residence, was also found on Wednesday night.
As reported to the court by the police representative, the 25-year-old admitted under questioning after his arrest to committing the burglary and theft last Saturday and even stated that the amount of money stolen was not €5000 as initially reported, but €9000.
The burglary of the auxiliary building of the famous religious monument, which is included in the list of the Department of Antiquities, took place on February 3, The priest in charge of the church reported to the police that the office of the church of Agia Paraskevi, located next to the church, was burglarized and a sum of money and various ecclesiastical items of value were stolen from it.
Members of the Pafos ICF went to the scene and the examinations revealed that the entrance and exit of the perpetrators was achieved through a wooden window of the office, after it was violated with a sharp object, while external protective irons were also cut off. Various documents were received from the scene for scientific examinations.
The Police obtained the third testimony that a Bulgarian person, who is a permanent resident of Paphos, was involved in the case. A warrant was issued against him by the Pafos District Court for the arrest and search of the premises where he lives. Members of the force searched the premises in the presence of the wife of the wanted person and located inside the house and received as evidence an amount of money of €4705 as well as cufflinks of gold colour and two rings of bronze colour.
The ICF Pafos is investigating the case.
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Turkish Cypriot lawyer Akan Kursat, who is facing 20 charges of misappropriation of property in the occupied areas, has not pleaded guilty.
Specifically, the suspect is charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, obtaining property, making false representations, unlawful possession and use of land registered with another, attempting to obtain property by false representations, fraud in the sale of property.
For her part, the prosecution noted that in order to remain free on parole, he will have to pay a personal cash guarantee of €10,000 and an additional €65,000 bank guarantee from a banking institution, except in the occupied areas and Turkey. Furthermore, the suspect presents himself twice a month at a police station.
Kiursat's lawyer, Rikkos Mappourides, asked the court that the bail be deposited by the suspect's wife, while the bank guarantee should be paid through two different banking institutions in the Republic of Cyprus, amounting to €50,000 and €15,000 respectively. In addition, Mr. Mappouridis requested that the suspect report to the Ayios Dometios police station every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.
The court granted the requests, with the defendant remaining free under restrictive conditions, upon payment of the financial and bank guarantee and his presentation at the Ayios Dometios Police Station every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.
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Cyprus Police
The District Court of Larnaca today imposed a prison sentence on a 43-year-old man, who was found guilty after a trial of a case related to crimes committed during the transport of a number of illegal immigrants, by sea boat, in the area of Famagusta last October. Specifically, the District Court imposed a prison sentence of two and a half years, for the transport of eight immigrants, by waterway, in an unsafe or overloaded vessel, in the maritime area of the free Famagusta, on October 28, 2023. According to testimonies obtained during the investigation of the case, the 43-year-old was the navigator of the five-meter long boat. The case was investigated by the TAE of Larnaca.
