Filenews 14 November 2024 - by Fanis Makrides
The terrorism case being investigated by the Cypriot authorities has taken on international dimensions.
The ICF Headquarters, which carries out the relevant investigation following information from competent services of the Republic, extends beyond the boundaries of Cyprus their investigative work for the six arrested persons who allegedly participate in a money smuggling network through Turkey and the ultimate recipient of a terrorist organization in Syria.
According to reliable information obtained by "F" and which is leaked by the dropper due to security measures (judicial proceedings are held behind closed doors), at the moment the investigators of the case are in two-way contacts with Europol for evidence that emerged during their investigative work.
Banking
According to a reliable source in our newspaper, these suspects allegedly moved money, in addition to the widespread "Hawala" method in the Arab world, through bank accounts. These transactions left traces in the banking system and it is precisely for these reasons that the officers of the Cyprus Police are in contact with Europol, seeking to obtain more information. Initially, the European Police, at the request of the Anti-Terrorism Office, had received evidence showing that the six detained suspects from 2019 until today had transactions of large amounts through the banking sector.
Warrants in the EU
The international dimensions of the issue are not limited to this element that we have just recorded. Already last week, investigators of the ICF Headquarters (part of the Department for Combating Crime) have launched a procedure to implement investigation orders in European Union countries, but also to send requests for legal assistance to third countries, i.e. those that are not member states.
Simply put, based on these data, search warrants were expected to be executed on premises located in countries within the European Union, while assistance from third countries would be requested.
40 persons
The matter, however, does not end here. According to police forensic examinations on the mobile phones of the six Syrian suspects residing in Limassol and Paphos, the latter were talking to other people of Arab origin. The object of the calls through online platforms was the transfer of funds to Idlib, Syria, where Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly the Al Nusra Front, operates.
These are about 40 people who participated in these discussions and from whom the Police are trying to obtain statements through assistance from European and third countries.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is internationally designated as a terrorist organization and is known for its extreme approaches, including the execution of prisoners. And, of course, it is reportedly supported by the government of Tayyip Erdogan. In 2015, Cumhuriyet's editor-in-chief, Can Dudar, revealed footage showing a Turkish intelligence service (MIT) vehicle transporting weapons to northwestern Syria. Besides, the information available to the Cyprus Police states that the 44-year-old main suspect of the case, who resided in Limassol, was going to the occupied areas and through Turkish "liaisons" arranged the transfer of money.
Today in court the six suspects
All the above elements in relation to the investigative work of the Police, according to our information, have been put before the District Court for the purpose of issuing an 8-day detention order against the six most suspects. The request had been granted by the Court.
The new evidence that had emerged about the aforementioned and led to their rearrest last week (6/11), was the product of tests on their phones, but also access to their personal bank accounts.
In one case, the 44-year-old alleged treasurer of the designated terrorist organization HAYAT TAHRIR AL SHAM (HTS), based in Idlib, allegedly informed his associates through a chat on the online chat platform WhatsApp, that he collected the amount of €250,000 in Cyprus. In one case, the 44-year-old's wife, aged 36, who is also in custody, had sent her brother (29-year-old – 2nd suspect) a photo showing a money counting machine with the amount of €4,900. In WhatsApp messages between the 36-year-old and her 29-year-old brother, they agreed on a large sum of €16,500. The 36-year-old again sent the 29-year-old bundles of banknotes (euros) on the floor of her home in Limassol.
Besides, according to our report last October (27/10), the amounts allegedly sent by the 44-year-old to the neighbouring country are large. Based on what was put to the police by a source, he sends the organization up to €50,000 per week.
Today the six suspects will be brought back to the Nicosia District Court. Based on the above data, they will be requested to be detained for another eight days. Initially, eight people were arrested. Along the way, two of them were released. It is also noted that detention and deportation orders had been issued for those arrested, in order to gain time for the police in the effort to investigate it. The decrees were annulled after evidence emerged in the first week of November. The six people were re-arrested on November 6.
Suspects in the case are 44-year-old (main suspect), 29-year-old (brother-in-law of the first), 36-year-old (wife of the first), 35-year-old, 44-year-old and 38-year-old. All of them, according to police, are alleged to have contacts with each other.
He is being investigated -among others- for offences of conspiracy to commit a felony, participation in a criminal organization and offences in violation of the Combating Terrorism and Protection of Victims Law.
Their lawyers during the proceedings had raised the issue of abuse of procedure, as on the day the Police brought them to Court for the purpose of issuing detention orders, a hearing was set at the Administrative Court of International Protection following their relevant appeal.
