Pafos Live 16 May 2024
The Assize Court in Paphos today handed down prison sentences of 15 and nine years to two men, aged 27 and 35, respectively, after finding them guilty in a drug case. At the same time, a confiscation order was issued for the 35-year-old's property, for the amount of €48,900. The case concerns Chloraka when on July 31, 2023, 27 kilos of cannabis and approximately 12 kilos of cocaine were seized, while two men aged 27 and 35 were arrested, for the purpose of investigating a case involving drug trafficking.
The large quantity of drugs was detected during an organized operation of the YKAN. During the operation, members of the YKAN located the 27-year-old suspect in an open field in Chloraka, who allegedly excavated, opened a buried tank and processed its contents.
The members of the Police checked the suspect and found inside the buried tank, packages of cannabis with a total gross weight of 27 kg and 27 grams, as well as a quantity of cocaine-like substance, with a gross weight of 94 grams.
This was followed by a search of the car in which the 27-year-old had gone to the scene, where, according to police, packages with a quantity of cocaine-like substance, with a gross weight of 12 kg and approximately 344 grams, were found. Police arrested the 27-year-old.
As part of the operation, in the afternoon of the same day, members of the Police proceeded to arrest a 35-year-old suspect, pursuant to a court warrant, on the basis of evidence.
The two suspects sentenced to prison on Wednesday were heard before the Assize Court in a case of importing drugs, possession of drugs with intent to supply another person, money laundering and conspiracy to commit a felony.
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Filenews
Since Thursday morning (16/5), on-site investigations by the ICF of Limassol and the Fire Brigade are in progress in relation to the causes of yesterday's fire that broke out in the abandoned cinema "Apollon", in the Turkish Cypriot district in Limassol.
As philenews learns, from the preliminary examinations of the two services, it appears that the fire was set maliciously. In fact, according to the same information, flammable fumes were found in the building.
The evidence was received by the members of the Police so that further examinations could be carried out. Investigations by all involved services continue with the scene remaining cordoned off while fencing has been placed outside the building to protect the public.
It is recalled that from the fire, the roof of the abandoned cinema collapsed while adjacent premises and residences were protected. Also, a two-storey building with single masonry with the abandoned cinema was extensively affected by the fire.
The old cinema "Apollon" is characterized as a building of historical importance and cultural value for Limassol. Once again, the issue of abandoned buildings in Limassol comes back to the fore, while dozens of abandoned premises, mainly in the center of Limassol, have been turned into hotbeds of infection, some of them have become homes for homeless people who find temporary shelter.
The announcement of Limassol Municipality:
In relation to the unpleasant incident of the fire at the former Turkish Cypriot cinema of the Limassol T/C district, on Meszit Street, on Wednesday 15 May 2024, the Limassol Municipality clarifies the following:
From the first moment of the fire, an officer of the Limassol Municipality went to the area on the spot and took all necessary actions regarding the safety and protection of the public. The premises, which are listed and were not used, suffered extensive damage and as we were initially informed by the Fire Brigade, the fire was caused by arson and the case was referred to the Police for further investigation.
The Limassol Municipality takes care of the necessary immediate works concerning the safety and protection of the public and cooperates with the Conservation Sector for the planned rescue works in relation to the building. The T/C Property Management Service, whose officers were also present during the extinguishing of the fire, has already been informed and after the completion of the actions of the Fire Brigade will proceed with the necessary actions to secure consent and restore the listed building.
Since 2015, the Municipality had requested from the Ministry of Interior the concession of the premises, which had been preliminarily included in the projects co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, in order to proceed with maintenance for its use for social and cultural purposes, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the western districts of the Municipality.
The above, despite the repeated efforts of the Municipality, was not possible because the premises were leased to a beneficiary refugee. Recently, and after the Municipality found that the above commitment for the premises was lifted, it applied again in mid-2023 for the concession of the premises to the Municipality in order to proceed with its maintenance and utilization. On 4.5.2024, the T/C Property Management Section informed the Municipality that its request could not be met.
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Cyprus Mail
A 48-year-old man was remanded for eight days on Thursday by the Nicosia district court for being allegedly involved in a case of phone fraud involving individuals impersonating doctors.
The arrest early on Thursday came after a 72-year-old woman said she was cheated out of €52,000 and evidence gathered by Nicosia CID allegedly pointed to the suspect.
The woman reported the case on May 8.
According to the findings of the investigation, around 2pm on that day, the 72-year-old received a phone call on her landline from an unknown man, who introduced himself as a surgeon at the Nicosia general hospital.
The suspect allegedly demanded €57,000 for a surgical procedure needed by her son, who the caller said was injured in an accident.
Shortly after, an unknown man visited the woman’s house where she handed him a bag containing €52,000.
Other suspects allegedly involved in the case are still being sought by the police.
