Pafos Press 21 March 2024
The Paphos Police proceeded to arrest a 29-year-old man to facilitate investigations for an investigated case of illegal possession of a class B controlled drug, carrying a knife, and various traffic offences.
According to the Assistant Police Director of Paphos Operations Michalis Nikolaou, on 21.3.24. after midnight the members of the Paphos Crime Prevention Ulam stopped a vehicle in the Industrial area of Geroskipou which was driven by a 29-year-old.
As part of the investigation, a hand-made half-smoked cigarette containing tobacco mixed with traces of cannabis was found inside the vehicle, as well as a 9-centimeter-long knife with a pointed tip, the possession of which is prohibited.
The driver was arrested for obvious offences. Also, Mr Nikolaou told KYPE, in a drug test to which he was submitted, the indication was positive.
* * * * * *
Filenews
Nothing to do with the laundering case of almost Є8 million. claims that the 43-year-old from Ukraine, who allegedly received the money from his 31-year-old co-defendant in the trial, which will begin before the Larnaca Permanent Assize Court on April 17.
Yesterday, the 43-year-old, who owns a company in Limassol, appeared again before the Larnaca District Court, in order to decide whether he will remain in custody until the start of the trial.
His defense lawyers, Marinos Kaoullas and Antonis Demetriou, asked for him to be released. They said the 43-year-old was not involved in the case, suggesting that if he had intended to flee, he would not have voluntarily presented himself to the police.
It is noted that the accused presented himself to the police last Thursday, when they were informed that the person who received a cardboard box from the 31-year-old on March 1 was being sought. The box allegedly contained money and was dropped by the occupants of the motorcycle, who, according to the Ukrainian, robbed her in Limassol by snatching her Є420,000.
The delivery of the box was recorded by CCTV. At the request of the 43-year-old's lawyers, the video in question was shown in court yesterday. The defendant admits that he received the box from the 31-year-old Ukrainian woman, but claims that it contained clothes and other personal belongings, which he then handed over to her husband.
After a long procedure, the Court rejected the objection of the Ukrainian's lawyers and ordered that he remain in detention, based on the testimony of her co-defendant, who said that the money she had been gradually bringing to Cyprus since last August was handed over to the same person. His lawyers intend, as they told "F", to appeal against the Court's decision. The 43-year-old faces 40 counts of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
It is recalled that the 31-year-old arrived in our country 20 times from August 2023 until March 1, 2024, transferring the total amount of Є7,832,300.
* * * * * *
A member of a well-established ring that trafficked hard drugs in Limassol was the 38-year-old Nigerian, who was sentenced by the Limassol Permanent Assize Court to eight years in prison. After sentencing, he will testify as a prosecution witness.
The Permanent Assize Court of Limassol imposed on Wednesday (20/3) an 8-year prison sentence on the 38-year-old, who pleaded guilty to charges of possession and possession with intent to supply to other persons, cocaine fines weighing half a kilogram, and admitted an offence of illegal stay in the Republic. At an earlier stage, the Assize Court convicted two other defendants after admitting their own to the charges they faced. The case is pending for a fourth defendant, who pleaded guilty to the serious charges facing identical charges.
The 38-year-old convict played the role of a hard drug trafficker, claiming that he agreed to deliver quantities of cocaine for financial gain at the urging of another person living in the occupied areas, due to financial and family problems. In relation to the half kilogram of cocaine found in his possession, he said that he met with another person where he handed over the disputed quantity in order to transport it for the sum of €500.
Mitigating factors were taken into account by the defendant's lawyer, Stelios Alvanis, such as his immediate admission, his clean criminal record, his cooperation with the police as well as the fact that the 38-year-old is willing to testify as a prosecution witness.
In its judgment, the Assize Court notes that "the role of the accused was undoubtedly not insignificant but essential, since he was a key and necessary link in the chain of dissemination of slow death".
The case arose when on 10/8/23 YKAN conducted an operation at a house in Limassol, where the 3 defendants lived. The search found, among other things, cocaine weighing 595 grams in a bag.
