Pafos Live 23 January 2025
A criminal investigation into the procedures followed in a tender by the Department of Forests for aerial firefighting equipment has been launched by the Cyprus Police, based on findings of an administrative investigation.
In a statement, the competent Ministry said that the administrative investigation, which was carried out on the instructions of Minister Maria Panayiotou, following a written complaint, covered all contracts since 2017, in order to determine whether disciplinary offenses or criminal offenses arise.
The Ministry assures that the procedures of the Republic of Cyprus for the flight program continue unhindered.
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Officers of the Department of Customs and Excise at Larnaka Airport, after assessing information, chose to check the baggage of a 40-year-old Turkish Cypriot, who was to depart from Larnaca for the United Kingdom.
During the check of the passenger's 2 bags, a total of 83 boxes of 200 cigarettes and 11 kilos of roll-your-own tobacco were found, which did not bear the smoking harm label in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The aforementioned quantity of tobacco products was confiscated by the officers of the Customs and Excise Department, while the passenger was arrested for flagrant offences.
The next day he was taken to the Larnaca District Court which issued a 2-day detention order. He then abandoned the confiscated items for destruction and was released, after paying an amount of €7,000 for the out-of-court settlement of the offences.
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The police traced the man, who was shown in a video that made the rounds on the internet attacking a delivery man and stealing his mobile phone. According to the police, his identity was identified and he is a 54-year-old man. The man handed over the complainant's mobile phone to the police station.
After being questioned, he was charged in writing.
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Filenews
The thread about the police officer who serves at a station in the Paphos district and was arrested by the body of his "incorruptible" colleagues, seems to have begun to unravel after a complaint by foreign residents of Pafos against him.
According to what the police authorities are investigating, after the arrest of the suspected corruption member of the force, foreigners reported to the police that they gave a sum of €600 to the suspected police officer when he asked them for this amount after a traffic accident in which they were involved in the area of Pegeia.
According to the complaint of the foreigners, the police officer claimed that this amount had to be paid in order to give it to the Akamas Municipality for the repair of the sign which they destroyed when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with it.
Following investigations carried out by the Internal Audit Service of the Police, the member of the force serving at a station in the Paphos district was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. He is now charged with offences involving unlawful acquisition of property, decimation, theft by a public official, abuse of power and deceit and abuse of trust by a public official.
Reports indicate that this member of the Police was previously suspended following a complaint by a betting agency owner about a similar bribery case. The allegations, however, were investigated, the policeman was acquitted and returned to his duties.
"The leadership of the Police stresses once again that the fight against corruption is a priority for the Police. The Police remains committed to its mission and committed to serving society with integrity and respect," a statement said.
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Police in Limassol were alerted at dawn today as unknown persons set fire to the vehicle of a 30-year-old man parked outside a workshop.
According to the police, around 00:30 in the morning on Thursday, a vehicle that had been parked here for some time outside a workshop due to mechanical failure, was engulfed in flames.
Members of the Fire Brigade rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the vehicle.
After investigations made by the Police, it was found that the fire was set maliciously.
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A fire broke out last night in an apartment in Larnaca.
The fire reportedly broke out around 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday in an apartment in Chakilero, where two foreign men live.
Due to the fire, the two men were transferred to Larnaka General Hospital, as they inhaled smoke. One of the two was discharged while the second remained in hospital with minor burns.
At the same time, during the examinations it was found that one of the two is staying illegally in Cyprus with the members of the Police proceeding to arrest him.
The fire needed the intervention of the Fire Brigade, while its causes are being investigated by the Police.
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An attack took place in Limassol against Halil Savda, a peace activist and conscientious objector living as a political refugee in the free areas, according to Turkish Cypriot media.
The incident reportedly took place on the evening of January 20, when a group of 15-20 masked youths attacked Savda and his two roommates. The attackers, shouting and threatening, threw stones and objects at their home, causing material damage and injuring one of the occupants.
According to the victim's complaint at a Limassol Police Station, this is the second attack against him in ten days. On January 10, Savda was similarly attacked by a group of youths in the same area, the reports said.
"In Turkey they targeted me because I am a Kurd, here they target me because they consider me a Turk," said Savda, who has sought political asylum from the Republic of Cyprus due to persecution in his country of origin.
Savda was convicted in Turkey for refusing to join the army.
According to Filenews, the case is being investigated by the Episkopi Police Station and closed circuit surveillance of the area is expected to be taken for study and evaluation.
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Members of the Nicosia OPE, following an assessment of information concerning illegal possession, trafficking, trade of duty-free tobacco products and fraudulent evasion of consumption taxes, conducted yesterday, between the hours of 7 a.m. – 5pm, coordinated operation, together with members of the Department of Customs.
During the operation, two vehicles were stopped for inspection, in the Nicosia district, owned by a 43-year-old and a 23-year-old, in which a total of 1,400 packets of heated cigarettes, 1,640 packets of cigarettes, 1,700 grams of cigarette tobacco and 500 grams of hookah tobacco were found and seized.
🚨Illegal Possession and Trade of Duty-Free Tobacco and Other Products – Fraudulent Evasion of Duties and Taxes in the Republic – Two Persons
👉Arrested https://t.co/1r0SgqaUXW pic.twitter.com/GZGz6djymF— Cyprus Police (@Cyprus_Police) January 22, 2025
Subsequently, in a search of the 23-year-old's premises, located in the Nicosia district, 350 packets of heated cigarettes, 574 packets of cigarettes, 500 grams of hookah tobacco and 3,870 grams of cigarette tobacco were located and seized.
Subsequently, a search was carried out in a warehouse, which was placed behind bird cages in an invisible way, where a large quantity of cigarettes was found, which were transported to the Customs Department for counting.
The value of those seized is estimated to exceed €200,000. The 43-year-old and 23-year-old were arrested and are expected to appear before a court today by the Department of Customs.
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Four incidents of dog and fox poisoning have occurred in recent months at the British Bases in Akrotiri and Episkopi, officials from the SBA Environment Department have confirmed.
According to the information from the British Bases, all incidents were detected in Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation and according to the BB Department of Environment they are of serious concern as they pose a threat to wildlife, especially the "protected bird species" that the areas host.
The discovery of most recent cases was made in cooperation between the SBA authorities and the Republic of Cyprus. In one case, the poisonous baits were detected by the dogs of the Poison Bait Detection Team of the Game and Fauna Service of the Republic.
Alexia Perdiou, BB's Senior Environmental Officer explained why these cases pose a threat. "The use of poisons can have devastating effects on species such as the Griffon Vulture that feed on the carcasses of other animals and can be affected by secondary poisoning. "The placement of poison baits may be to address problems that fox farmers have, but it may also be the result of rivalries between people who illegally train dogs in affected areas." And as a warning to those involved in this illegal act, he added: "It is reminded that the training of hunting dogs is prohibited everywhere in the British Bases and violators are subject to an extrajudicial fine of €300 and in case of conviction to imprisonment up to two years or a fine of up to €3,417."
At the same time, the SBA Police is investigating the incidents and evidence has been sent to the General Chemical Laboratory of the Republic for toxicological tests to determine the poisonous substance.
The SBA Police and Environment Department have launched intensive campaigns against illegal hunting dog training, while the Game Service's Poison Bait Detection Team patrols the areas on a regular basis.
"Citizens are urged to report incidents of illegal dog training as well as information that may be related to the use of poisoned baits to the SBA Police on 1443," Perdiou added. "If a person wishes to make an anonymous complaint, they can call the 97720883. Everyone's cooperation is vital to solving the problem."
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Fifty kilos of snails were found by the Department of Customs and Excise in a Turkish Cypriot vehicle in mid-December.
According to the facts of the case, the Turkish Cypriot attempted to cross into the free areas through the Ayios Dometios barricade.
Officers of the Department stopped the vehicle for inspection and found snails weighing fifty kilos inside it.
As an official of the Department of Customs and Excise told Filenews, the purpose of the Turkish Cypriot seems to have been to sell the snails in restaurants in the free areas.
The suspect was fined €20, while the snails were destroyed as provided by the Green Line regulation.
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A case of robbery, committed last night in the Nicosia district, with a food delivery victim, is being investigated by the Police.
According to the evidence under examination, around 20:40, a food distributor was called to deliver an order in an area of Aglantzia.
During the delivery process, he was approached by four to five persons, who after receiving the order, then snatched the bag in his possession, which contained a sum of money and various personal documents.
The complainant fell to the ground and one of the perpetrators hit him on the head, but did not injure him.
The perpetrators then fled in an unknown direction, with the Nicosia ICF continuing to investigate the case.
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The time for the verdict for the 45-year-old perpetrator of the brutal murder of Charalambos Konstantinidis, 52, from Paralimni, on June 25 last year in Ormidia has arrived.
The British Bases Dhekelia Court found the 45-year-old guilty on Thursday morning of premeditated murder and his sentence will be announced on March 16 and 17.
BB Senior Lieutenant Phanos Christodoulou said: "It has been a long and intensive investigation and we as BB Police Service are very pleased that Mr. Konstantinidis' family has seen justice served." "Nothing can make up for the loss of a loved one, but at the very least, the perpetrator of this crime will face a very heavy punishment."
It is recalled that the murder of the 52-year-old was committed on the evening of June 25 at the 45-year-old's car paint shop in Ormidia. The two seem to have had a financial difference and quarrelled. The accused allegedly fired twice at the 52-year-old, wounding him in the face, and then hitting him with an iron on the head.
The Bases Police were alerted by a nearby resident, who said he heard gunshots and saw the 45-year-old near the victim's body. Patrol cars rushed to the scene, however, the alleged perpetrator fled in a car that was in the garage and the next day surrendered to the authorities.
