Pafos Live 10 May 2024
The Pafos district court will announce at noon its decision whether to issue police requests for detention orders against three Greek Cypriots, two men and one woman who have been arrested on suspicion of more than 20 burglaries committed in Paphos from 2020 until recently.
According to the Police, the 20 cases of residential burglary and theft were committed between November 2020 and April 2024, in the district of Paphos and resulted in the theft of money and property, with a total value of approximately €865,000.
In the context of police examinations and after evaluation and utilization of information received by the Police, testimony emerged against three persons, two men aged 35, 32 and a woman 36 years old. Judicial arrest warrants were issued against them under which they were arrested this morning and detained.
Yesterday they were brought before the Pafos district court where the witness of the Police testified under oath and a request was made for a detention order for 8 days for all three.
The Court adjourned the proceedings until tomorrow afternoon, so that the witness could be cross-examined by the defense lawyers and then issue its decision. The three suspects remain in custody.
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Police made a fourth arrest in connection with the case of rioting and arson of a police vehicle, committed on the evening of Holy Saturday (4/5/2024), in Limassol, yesterday afternoon.
He is a 19-year-old resident of Limassol against whom testimony was obtained during police examinations. A judicial arrest warrant was issued against the 19-year-old, under which he was arrested and detained to facilitate interrogations.
It is noted that three other persons, aged 22, 21 and 19, are already in custody in the same case.
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As part of an investigation into a case involving the extortion of money by false representations by fraudsters posing as doctors, police arrested a 61-year-old man yesterday.
According to the evidence under investigation, on May 1, 2024, an 83-year-old woman had reported to the police that she had received a phone call at her home landline from an unknown man, who asked her for money for surgery, which her grandson supposedly needed to undergo. A short time later, an unknown man visited the 83-year-old at her home, who received from the complainant the amount of €650.
During the investigation, testimony emerged against the above man, who was arrested and detained. Under questioning, he makes several allegations which are being investigated.
This morning he is expected to be brought before the Nicosia District Court, while the ICF Nicosia continues the examinations.
Police once again urge caution to the public, stressing that such telephone communications and allegations are false and aimed at defrauding citizens and stealing money.
It also appeals to the public to immediately inform the Police in case they receive such calls, by contacting the nearest Police Station or the District ICF, or the Citizen's Line, at the telephone number 1460.
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Police arrested a 16-year-old boy yesterday to facilitate investigations into ongoing cases of burglary, theft, car theft and malicious damage committed in Nicosia in recent days.
Against the 16-year-old, testimony was secured during police examinations on three counts of burglary, theft, car theft and malicious damage, committed between the dates April 28 and May 7, 2024. A judicial arrest warrant was issued against him, under which he was arrested yesterday and detained.
Under questioning, the 16-year-old allegedly admitted to committing the above offences, while he also allegedly confessed to committing three other cases of burglary and theft, committed at the same time, also in Nicosia.
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Filenews
Police in Paphos arrested a 37-year-old man to facilitate investigations into an ongoing case of illegal possession of drugs and various traffic offences.
According to Paphos Assistant Police Director of Operations Michalis Nicolaou, yesterday 9 May at 12:30 members of the "Z" team of the Pafos Traffic Police who were on Akamantidos Avenue intercepted a motorcycle driven by a 37-year-old person, a permanent resident of Paphos.
It was found that the 37-year-old was driving with an expired student license, without insurance coverage, with a cancelled registration, without a protective helmet and was positive in a drug test.
Furthermore, a small quantity of cannabis, weighing 0.9 grams, was found in his possession. The 37-year-old was arrested, taken to the Paphos Police Offices, charged in writing and released to be summoned later.
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The Cyprus Police contributed significantly to an international operation organized by Europol, during which a cyber fraud ring involving cryptocurrencies was dismantled.
During the operation, six people were arrested and millions of euros in cryptocurrencies, money and other assets were seized.
In addition to the Cyprus Police, the police authorities of Austria and the Czech Republic participated in the operation, while Europol and Eurojust participated in its coordination.
The case was initially investigated by the Austrian authorities. According to a press release issued yesterday by Europol, between December 2017 and February 2018, the suspects allegedly deceived their victims by inviting them, through targeted online information, to invest money in cryptocurrencies on specific online platforms. The damage caused by this fraud is said to amount to five million euros.
With the assistance of Europol, a Joint Action Day (JAD) was held on 17 October 2023, with the participation of Austrian, Czech and Cypriot authorities. During the operation, simultaneous searches and arrests were carried out in the three countries.
In Cyprus, one of the suspects had been identified as resident, against whom an arrest warrant had been issued, as well as a search warrant for his home. During the Joint Day of Action, members of the Office for the Execution of European Investigation Orders & Requests for Legal Assistance, the Forensic Electronic Data Laboratory and the ICF of Larnaka, together with investigators from the Austrian authorities and Europol, went to his home, where they located and arrested the suspect. During the ensuing search, various computers and mobile phones, as well as an electronic wallet containing a number of cryptocurrencies, with a total value of more than $90,000, were located and received as evidence.
All seized items were handed over to the Austrian authorities, while the suspect was brought before a court and also extradited to Austria.
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in-cyprus
Police are grappling with a resurgent underworld power struggle following the killing of Alexis Mavromichalis.
Phileleftheros reports that the assassination has inflamed existing tensions and triggered a turf war for control of Nicosia’s nightlife.
A recent shooting on Stasikratous Street is seen as a symptom of this conflict.
Foreign security personnel employed by underworld figures reportedly demand a larger share of the profits, further complicating the situation.
Police sources believe the underworld power struggle will persist.
Authorities are working on multiple fronts to contain the violence. They are urging prominent underworld figures to de-escalate and are conducting targeted interventions.
Minister of Justice and Public Order Marios Hartsiotis has instructed police to suppress the warring factions and intensify efforts to solve serious crimes.
Recent arrests linked to the attempted murder of Dimitris Andronikou (“Dimitroui”) showcase progress in some cases. However, police acknowledge a need for more proactive crime prevention measures.
Andronikou, though recovering, remains in serious condition with a bullet lodged in his liver. He is unable to speak with investigators, hindering efforts to identify his attackers.
In response to the growing tensions, police have intensified patrols in areas frequented by underworld figures.
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A 73-year-old man from the free province of Famagusta paid dearly for the illegal employment of a foreigner.
He will sit in the cell for a total of 10 months, since he appears to have committed the same offence before.
According to a police statement, yesterday the Famagusta District Court sentenced a 73-year-old man to six months in prison after finding him guilty in a case of illegal employment of a foreigner.
At the same time, a four-month prison sentence, imposed last June, suspended for three years, was activated on the 73-year-old for similar offences.
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Police in Paphos arrested three persons aged 24, 28 and 23 for two investigated cases of illegal employment and employment in Paphos, while for both cases their employers were charged in writing with illegal employment to be summoned later.
According to Pafos Assistant Police Director of Operations, Michalis Nicolaou, yesterday, May 9, at around 11:40, members of the YAM went to a restaurant located on Archbishop Makarios Avenue in Paphos following information that various persons work illegally there. The investigation identified two persons, aged 24 and 28 from Bangladesh, who were employed at the café in question. It was found that the 24-year-old remained in the Republic illegally since 9.8.23 while the 28-year-old since November 1, 2023. The two were also employed illegally and arrested.
The employer was a 58-year-old woman who was summoned to the Paphos Police Offices for questioning. Nicolaou told CNA that it is up to the Legal Service to decide whether they will be prosecuted or deported.
In a second case, on 9 May at 11:40, other members of the YAM went to another café located in the Paphos market to investigate information about illegal employment. There they found a 23-year-old woman of African origin, who remained in the Republic illegally since 22.3.24 and at the same time was employed illegally. The 23-year-old was arrested.
The 41-year-old employer was summoned to the Paphos Police Offices and questioned. Instructions are also expected from the Legal Service whether the 23-year-old will be deported or prosecuted.
