Pafos Live 27 January 2025
As part of a coordinated operation that took place today between the hours of 2 a.m. – 8am, in Polis Chrysochous, by members of the Aliens and Immigration Service from all districts, 53 nationals of foreign countries, who were staying illegally in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, were arrested.
28 of them have already been deported to their countries of origin, while for the rest the deportation procedures are under way.
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The arrest of two persons, aged 37 and 34, was carried out by members of the Police in Paphos, as part of the investigation of a case of residential burglary and theft. Members of the Police found in the possession of the suspects, property that had been stolen from a residence, after its burglary.
The 37-year-old and 34-year-old were stopped for inspection by members of the Paphos OPE, at around 7.15 last night, in an area in Paphos, where they were travelling by car. During the search, various jewellery, such as rings, earrings, and watches, were found in their possession, for the possession of which the two suspects did not give satisfactory explanations, resulting in the members of the Police proceeding to their arrest for the offense of illegal possession of property.
Later, around 9.00 pm on Sunday, a couple of tourists reported to the Pegeia Police Station the burglary of the residence where they live in the Pegeia area. According to the complaint, the burglary was committed on Sunday afternoon and gold jewellery and watches were stolen from the residence.
The two complainants were shown the jewellery found in the possession of the two suspects and they identified it as their property stolen during the burglary of their residence.
Judicial arrest warrants were issued against the 37-year-old and the 34-year-old, under which they were arrested, for the purpose of investigating the case of residential burglary and theft. They were taken into custody, with the Pegeia Police Station continuing examinations.
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Police arrested a 24-year-old man last night to facilitate investigations into an ongoing case of attempted murder. The attempt was committed on January 9, 2025, in the district of Larnaka, with a 30-year-old victim.
The 24-year-old was arrested under a court warrant pending against him. In order to locate him, the Police had published his photo and personal details on January 15, 2025. As far as the case is concerned, according to the evidence under examination, around 2 p.m. on January 9, the 30-year-old went to an area of the village of Kornos, in order to meet with unknown persons, to buy and sell a car.
There he was approached by a vehicle, from which four men exited, two of whom were allegedly in possession of a pistol. The 30-year-old started his car to flee and in this attempt, he received a number of shots resulting in injuries to his arm and shoulder blade.
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The target of a criminal act was a residence in Limassol at dawn. An unknown person fired a pistol at the house, causing a disturbance in the area. The incident took place shortly after five in the morning in the neighbourhood of Agios Nikolaos.
According to police, a person approached a residence belonging to a 52-year-old man and fired multiple shots.
Members of the Police went to the scene for investigations and interrogations. From CCTV images of the house, it appeared that the perpetrator is one. Tests also revealed that he used a pistol.
Various documents were received from the scene and will be sent for scientific examinations. At the same time, statements are taken from neighbours and the complainant. Reports indicate that investigators' investigations are pointing in specific directions.
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Filenews
Two separate attacks on foreigners were carried out by a man wanted by police
According to the data, yesterday around 10:15 pm, a 22-year-old man from India, while walking on Agiou Georgiou Street, in Kolossi, Limassol, was attacked by a driver of a large displacement motorcycle, who hit him with his hands, in the face, injuring him in the lips and left eye.
Immediately afterwards, on the same street, the suspect also attacked a 22-year-old man, hitting him with his hands in the face, but without causing him any injury. At the time of the attack, the 22-year-old was working as a food delivery man and riding a moped for food delivery.
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Authorities made an arrest late in the afternoon for the shooting of a 52-year-old Greek Cypriot at dawn in Agios Nikolaos, Limassol district. He is a 49-year-old Greek Cypriot.
According to information, he is a 49-year-old Greek Cypriot, who was located and arrested around 8:00 on Sunday night.
As recorded by CCTV, the assailant, wearing a hood, approached the 52-year-old pedestrian's house, from the side north of the house that abuts a road. He then fired two shots with a pistol at the aluminium window shutters of the house, which is used as a warehouse, and fled, again on foot in a northerly direction.
It is recalled that speaking to Filenews, the 52-year-old owner of the house, said that he gave a statement to the authorities and named a specific person.
He said that behind the case is a person who, according to him, has bought the house where he lives and wants to evict him and his family.
It is worth noting that two shell casings were found on the road, which were received for examinations.
The investigations of the ICF Limassol are ongoing.
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In the hands of the Attorney General is the case of the SHSO doctor, who, according to complaints from relatives of a patient, repeatedly asked them for money, without proof, because, as he allegedly stated in emails exchanged with them and which came to light, they had to "appreciate" what he offered.
"Shame. Doctors in Cyprus, both public and private, are paid very well", was the comment of Health Minister Michalis Damianou who in statements to Filenews, said that complaints were made to the Ministry and the SHSO and the case is being investigated.
On his part, SHSO spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou, in a written statement, said that "following a complaint received by the Ministry of Health and forwarded to the SHSO the SHSO the matter was immediately referred to the Disciplinary Board and the Board of Directors, where after a legal opinion, it was decided that as of today 27.01.2025, the services of the doctor in question will be terminated immediately.
It is noted that in the letter received by the Agency from the Ministry of Health regarding this complaint, it is stated that the case in question was referred to the Assistant Attorney General of the Republic for investigation of any criminal offences."
The case was brought to light by CyBC and according to the relevant complaints, the patient had travelled to Athens to undergo surgery. The doctor went to Athens for the surgery and there, he allegedly asked for money, on more than one occasion, from relatives for services. He told them in text messages, also published, that he could not issue receipts because he is a public doctor and it is illegal to take money.
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The authorities were mobilized around 11 o'clock, following a report of an injured person in old Nicosia.
According to police, the incident took place in the area of Ledra Street, when a man appears to have attacked another man with a sharp object, possibly a knife. The injured man, 40, was taken to Nicosia Hospital to receive medical treatment.
He suffered a sharp object wound under the armpit and had communication during his transfer to the hospital.
Members of the Ledra police substation rushed to the scene. Investigations to identify the perpetrator are ongoing.
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The Filenews report, published on 28 October, on the successful operation by Europol and Eurojust to dismantle a criminal network involved in money laundering in Cyprus has been fully confirmed. In a statement today, police said large sums of money and luxury cars were found and confiscated, while cryptocurrencies worth €24 million were frozen.
Significant participation of the Cyprus Police in a joint European operation of Europol for the dismantling of a criminal network, trafficking and money laundering. As part of the operation, more than 20 suspects were arrested, tens of millions of euros worth of cryptocurrency, and millions of euros, luxury cars and other valuables were seized.
The operation, codenamed "YUZUK", lasted one year and aimed to dismantle a criminal organisation involved in money laundering. The organization was allegedly headed by two brothers of Ukrainian origin, residing in Limassol and with Cypriot citizenship, which they had acquired through the Cyprus Investment Program. The circuit acted in a specific mode of action. A large number of third-country nationals transferred large amounts of money from European countries to Cyprus, which was also used as a transit station.
On 28 October 2024, as part of the operation, a joint day of action was held by the Police Authorities of Cyprus, Spain and France, with the assistance of Europol.
In Cyprus, 13 search warrants were executed at homes and premises by members of the ICF Headquarters, the YKAN, the YAM, the ICF and the OPE Limassol, assisted by representatives of Europol and the Spanish authorities. During the searches in Limassol, more than €650,000 in cash, a large quantity of valuables, a number of electronic devices, mobile phones, bank documents, etc. were seized. More than 25 million cryptocurrencies, with a total value of more than €24 million, were also frozen. Six luxury vehicles were also seized, the value of which is estimated at more than €650,000 and a charge order was issued by MOKAS in 14 apartments worth more than €7 million.
At pan-European level during Operation YUZUK:
• 23 persons were arrested in Spain, France and Slovenia;
• 90 houses were searched in Spain, France and Cyprus;
• €8.2 million in cash were seized,
• €29.5 million in cryptocurrencies were frozen,
• 36 luxury cars were seized; • valuables worth hundreds of thousands of euros were seized.
Operation YUZUK involved the police authorities of Cyprus, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia and Spain, as well as the European agencies EUROPOL and EUROJUST.
