Filenews 24 October 2024
A total of 312 vinebirds were confiscated at the barricades of the British Bases, which police found hidden in vehicles.
The vehicles and birds were confiscated by customs officials and the owners were immediately arrested by BB police, charged and will soon appear in court.
The Department of Customs and Immigration and BB police work closely together to ensure that birds are not smuggled through barricades, and according to Mark Hartley, who heads the Department of Customs and Excise in the Dhekelia area, "the illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade in the world."
We are committed, he said, to detect any attempts to illegally import protected species through the Green Line. With the current migratory season of Ampelopouli, the BB Customs Department has been deployed operationally to intercept any movements of these protected birds crossing the BB boundaries.
"The detection of these birds underscores our commitment to tackling wildlife crime, which has a devastating environmental impact. Our actions are an integral part of addressing a global issue and protecting endangered species. My officers continue their necessary work at the barricades to eradicate this ruthless and exploitative trade."
The seizures followed confirmation that BB police efforts to combat illegal bird trapping continued at a pace, with several arrests already made in October during operations carried out by the Community Action Task Force (CAT).
This year, the BB police were able to achieve a record number of dedicated officers for operations and this was further reinforced with military support where needed.
Senior Lieutenant Phanos Christodoulou, who leads the powerful CAT team with 10 police officers, explained why his officers have been able to make such an impact this year.
"We were able to call up to 10 members of the military to assist us in our operations when working on military ground and in addition, we worked very closely with Bird Life Cyprus and CABS to combat bird trapping.
«We continued to invest in technology, with drones, CCTV and other modern means of detection.
"This is a serious crime and will continue to be dealt with with everything at our disposal."
The migration season of Ampelopouli is expected to end in early November, when the official focus will turn to illegal poaching of Thrushes.
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Two unaccompanied minors and a 26-year-old man, all from Syria, were handcuffed by the police for a new fight on the coastal front of Finikoudes that happened yesterday afternoon.
According to philenews information from police sources, shortly before 7:00 yesterday afternoon a report was received about a fight between youths on Athinon Avenue. Members of the Larnaka police immediately rushed to the scene and were on foot patrol in the area and arrested all three people involved.
According to the testimonies, a 17-year-old along with the 26-year-old argued with another minor, as a result of which he beat them. An iron fist was also found in the possession of one. Juveniles carry abrasions on the body.
The case is being examined by the Department of Minor Offences and will be registered within the day at the Larnaca District Court. Police are investigating a case of fighting, alarm, disturbing the peace and possession of an offensive instrument.
Meanwhile, last night the Larnaca ICF arrested a fifth person for Saturday's incidents in Finikoudes. He is an 18-year-old from Syria who was detained. The case against the five arrested, three of whom are 17 years old, will be registered on Friday before the Larnaca District Court.
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A month after Roman Kazimierz Ziemian was arrested by Montenegrin authorities on charges of defrauding users of around $21 million through the digital currency trading platform FutureNet, the Republic of Cyprus proceeded to deprive him of his Cypriot passport.
Officers from Interpol's main office Podgorica arrested Polish-born Ziemian on August 17th at the Master Quarter, a newly built residential complex in Podgorica where he was hiding under a false identity. After confirming his identity with foreign associates, searches were carried out at the place where the arrested person lived. Ziemian was wanted on international arrest warrants issued by South Korea and Poland.
The extradition process will take more than a year.
Ziemian is suspected of criminal acts of financial crime, namely money laundering, theft and violation of the law, which carry a life sentence in South Korea. In particular, he was wanted by the authorities of that Asian country for the offence of aggravated fraud in violation of the law for aggravated punishment for certain financial crimes and for conducting a fundraising operation without permission under the country's penal code, which carry out a life sentence. He is also wanted by Polish authorities for fraud and theft offences, as well as money laundering. Offences carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment. He acquired Cypriot citizenship by way of exception by naturalization by decision of the Council of Ministers dated 28/8/2019. Ziemian and his family members, wife and son were naturalized.
It is noted that after their naturalization they changed their surname from Ziemian to Hortmann.
Last year, police informed the Ministry of Interior that Zieman was wanted through Interpol by authorities in South Korea and Poland. The offences for which he is wanted are also offences in the Republic.
For money laundering they carry a prison sentence of 14 years or a fine of up to €500,000 or both.
For conspiracy to commit a felony the maximum penalty is 7 years or up to €50,000 fine or both.
Other offences include false accounts, fraud, pyramid scheme, obtaining credit by false representations, fraudulent appropriation and causing a document to be executed by false representations.
It is noted that Interpol Warsaw has given its consent to the authorities of the Republic to use the data for which he is wanted in the context of a procedure for the deprivation of Cypriot citizenship.
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Police in Paphos arrested a 34-year-old man wanted by German authorities yesterday.
Members of the force located and arrested a 34-year-old foreigner under a European arrest warrant issued by German authorities in connection with an ongoing case of computer-related fraud.
The arrested man was brought the same day before the Pafos District Court for extradition to the German authorities. The case was set for hearing on October 31, and today the court will decide whether or not the 34-year-old will remain in custody until that day.
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in-cyprus
A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for causing the death of Savvas Charalambous, 75, in a multi-vehicle collision on the Kantou-Souni road in 2019, the Limassol District Court ruled on Wednesday.
The fatal crash, which involved five vehicles and left several people seriously injured, occurred on the evening of 24 August 2019. The defendant was found guilty on 10 October 2024 of causing death by reckless or dangerous act and driving at a speed liable to endanger life.
In her ruling, Judge Doria Varoshiotou highlighted Cyprus’s poor record on road safety within the European Union. “Fatal accidents have become a tragic daily phenomenon in our country, which holds the worst position among European countries for both fatal accidents and general violations of the Highway Code”, she said.
The court heard that the defendant attempted to overtake two vehicles at high speed on a busy, dark road, leading to a series of collisions. “The defendant ignored and overlooked the serious risk of causing an accident and collision with vehicles using the road in both directions at that time”, the judge stated.
The sentence will be calculated from 24 November 2023, when the defendant was first remanded in custody. No additional penalty was imposed for the speeding charge as it was considered part of the primary offence.
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Cyprus Mail
The two monks on trial for forgery and money laundering have been hit with another five charges, bringing them to a total of 24, Nicosia criminal court heard on Wednesday.
Archimandrites at the scandal-hit Osiou Avakoum monastery Nektarios and Porfyrios are on trial for financial crimes.
Their defence asked for more time to assess witness material, which they claimed the prosecution only handed over on Tuesday.
The hearing was adjourned to November 21, however the defence team specified they would file an objection over five new charges added to the charge sheet.
Both monks initially faced 19 charges including illegal possession of property amounting to €196,000, forgery, theft, false tax declaration, money laundering and interfering in court proceedings. The five new charges concern theft by proxy.
The monks are free on certain conditions until the next hearing.
Earlier this month, the two monks were defrocked and stripped of all priestly duties, following a Holy Synod decision they vowed to fight. They retain their monastic status.
The monks were embroiled in a major scandal that rocked the church, where videos emerged of them engaging in ‘sexually unethical acts’, as well as their involvement in allegedly scamming money out of believers.
