Filenews 28 January 2025
Police handcuffed a third foreign man last night in connection with the attempted murder in Kornos. Specifically, men of the Larnaca ICF proceeded to the arrest of a third man aged 24, who is considered a suspect in the case concerning the attempted murder of a 30-year-old man in an area of the village of Kornos that took place on January 9.
It is recalled that at 12:00 noon on Monday, the Police handcuffed a 25-year-old foreigner, for the attempted murder in Kornos. A court arrest warrant was pending against the 25-year-old, a permanent resident of Nicosia. The young man will appear today for detention. Following this arrest, three people have been detained in connection with this case.
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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Six cases of burglary and theft committed in Nicosia are to be solved, following the arrest of a 29-year-old man.
Against the 29-year-old, testimony emerged that he was involved in three cases of burglary of premises and theft of a total amount of money of €900, as well as property of a total value of €340. The burglaries were committed between the dates of December 15 – 25, 2024.
The 29-year-old suspect was arrested today on a court arrest warrant and is already in eight-day detention for similar offences.
Specifically, he was arrested on 22/01/2025 for facilitating investigations, regarding three cases of burglary of premises and thefts committed between the dates 04-09 January, 2025. According to the complaints made to the police, a total amount of money amounting to €5,664 and property worth €450 had been stolen.
The ICF Nicosia continues the examinations.
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A 36-year-old Greek Cypriot man was found dead around 21:00 on Monday night in an open space in the area of Mesa Geitonia.
The man was taken to a private hospital in Limassol where he was pronounced dead.
Police are investigating a case of sudden death.
Answers about the cause of death of the 36-year-old are expected to be given by the legal autopsy that will be performed on his body.
According to information from the police, the possibility that his death was due to substance use is also being investigated.
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The Russian convict, who in 2019 had caused the fatal accident in Limassol that killed 28-year-old Panagiotis Christoforou, received a double no from the Board for Release on Leave and the Administrative Court.
The Russian was initially sentenced in 2021 to 9 years in prison for manslaughter, which was reduced to seven by a decision of the Court of Appeal, which had noted the following: "Given that the present case concerns involuntary homicide and further taking into account all the mitigating factors concerning the person of the Appellant, objectively judged, these do not reflect the sentence imposed. Therefore, the sentence of 9 years is judged to be manifestly excessive and is replaced with a sentence of 7 years imprisonment."
In that judgment, the Court said, "the final conclusion of the Assize Court as to the establishment of the offence of homicide under Article 205 of the Criminal Code was held to be correct and was rightly not considered for the reasons explained by the disjunctive 2nd charge relating to the offence of causing death by reckless, reckless or dangerous act, in violation of Article 210 of the Criminal Code".
The applicant then submitted, on 23.8.2022, an application to be released on leave. The Parole Board decided on 4.4.2024, its rejection because, as stated and based on what is set out in the decision, the imprisonment of the applicant continues to be necessary.
It follows from the judgment itself, that throughout the examination of his application until the issuance of the contested decision, the applicant insisted on his innocence regarding the commission of the felony of homicide and accepted only the charge of causing death by reckless, reckless or dangerous act, in violation of Article 210 of the Penal Code.
As pointed out in the decision of the Administrative Court, the Council's assessment and submission of the facts of the case was impossible and the provisions of those provisions became inapplicable.
The judicial finding that the offence of murder had been committed was the basis for the Council to examine the applicant's application pursuant to the provisions of the Law. However, the applicant's refusal and/or the non-recognition of the Court's judgment on the commission of the offence of homicide inevitably constituted a denial of the very basis for examining his application, with the result that the provisions of the Law became meaningless in his case and ultimately inapplicable.
Following that finding, the Administrative Court dismissed his appeal against the decision not to release him on leave.
It is recalled that the terrible fatality that cut the thread of life to the unfortunate father of an underage boy, occurred in November 2019, when the car driven by Christoforou collided violently with the vehicle driven by the Russian national at breakneck speed who was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.
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At €40 million is calculated the value of property seized and frozen following investigations carried out during the joint European operation of Europol and Eurojust, codenamed "YUZUK", in Limassol. It seems that the two brothers, of Ukrainian origin, were involved.
According to information provided by Filenews and based on the police statement, the two men are alleged to be the ringleader. At present, one of them has been arrested in a European country, while the second is wanted under a court warrant issued by the Spanish authorities.
Using Cyprus, and specifically Limassol, as a "launderette" of black money to finance criminal organizations, the leaders – the two brothers of Ukrainian origin but with Cypriot citizenship – operated for a long time undisturbed.
According to reliable sources, it is a criminal organization that functioned as a financial institution for international criminal organizations. It seems that the brains recruited large numbers of people. These people entered the country through airports, carrying hundreds of thousands of euros. According to a well-informed source, it is estimated that each week they transferred amounts in the range of €200,000-€300,000 each.
The total value of the seized property identified after the joint operation is estimated at €40 million. This money, which entered the country in cash, appears to have been laundered through the purchase of luxury cars, apartments, cryptocurrencies and valuables.
According to the same information, the 31-year-old Ukrainian woman who had initially reported that she was robbed in Limassol appears to be involved in the ring. According to an earlier report, the 31-year-old visited our country 20 times, from August 2023 to March 1, 2024, transferring a total of €8 million.
Yesterday's announcement by the Cyprus Police confirms Filenews' revealing report on October 28 and 29, regarding the joint operation of Europol and Eurojust to dismantle a black money ring in Cyprus.
During the year-long joint European operation YUZUK, more than 20 suspects were arrested, tens of millions of euros worth of cryptocurrencies were frozen and millions of euros, luxury cars and other valuables were seized. 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, with the assistance of representatives of Europol and the Spanish authorities.
During the searches in Limassol, more than €650,000 in cash, a large quantity of valuables, electronic devices, mobile phones and bank documents were seized. In addition, cryptocurrencies with a total value of more than €25 million were frozen, while six luxury cars were seized, the total value of which is estimated at over €40 million.
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A 50-year-old man, Ziver Aslan, was "arrested" yesterday at the illegal airport in occupied Tymbou as he tried to travel with 50 pistol bullets in his luggage.
As reported in the occupied territories, the "arrest" took place at 11.30 in the morning during the security check. The 50 bullets were found in his suitcase. He had brought the bullets to the occupied territories again from the "airport" on January 22.
Aslan, a Turkish national, was transferred in the morning to the "district court" of Nicosia having given a voluntary statement – according to the "police" – and was banned from leaving the pseudo-state, a cash guarantee of TL 60,000 and a written guarantee of TL 400,000 as well as appearing once a week at a "police station".
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Under the suspended question of whether a prosecution witness will testify through technological means from abroad, the hearing of the case identified with the Qatari broadcaster, Al Jazeera, took place yesterday.
Since the previous hearing, two prosecution witnesses related to charges "4" and "5" have been issued, which are directly linked to the Al Jazeera television report that aired in October 2020. Both witnesses contributed to the production of the report in question and there is an impediment to coming to Cyprus and testifying under oath before the Assize Court.
One of the two people prevented from doing so is the first prosecution witness in the indictment, British-born estate agent Tony Kay. The latter is now reportedly residing in Britain. He was not positive to come to our island and testify. He cited health reasons, but also threats he received. This was mentioned during the previous trial by the prosecution, who had clarified that she does not know whether the threats concern the present case or not. However, defence lawyers for the three defendants had said their clients were unaware of these positions concerning the prosecution witness.
Yesterday, the prosecution's spokeswoman, lawyer for Republic A, Haris Karaolidou, said that the witness in question is willing to testify from abroad via videoconference in cooperation with the British authorities. He cited Tony Kay's health reasons that prevent him from travelling to Cyprus and submitted a relevant medical certificate. Although the defense lawyers indicated their intention to object to the testimony via videoconference, however, this issue based on what was reported by the bench will be decided at the next hearing (hearing of the request) set for next Monday.
Mr. Kay's testimony relates to charges "4" and "5" on the indictment, which involve all three defendants. Namely, the former speaker of the Parliament, Dimitris Syllouris, the former MP and businessman, Christakis Giovannis, and the director of the latter, Antonis Antoniou. If no testimony is produced, then there are doubts as to whether these two accusations will be supported by other evidence. However, if these two charges are dropped, then Mr. Antoniou will be fully acquitted and his name will be removed from the indictment.
Three prosecution witnesses, two police officials and an interior ministry official testified at yesterday's proceedings. There are five charges relating to corruption (influence trafficking) and conspiracy to defraud. As we noted, they are related to the cases of naturalization of a Jordanian businessman and his relative, a Russian-born businessman, and the case of the alleged Chinese investor with a criminal record, as presented in an Al Jazeera report.
The first charge includes Syllouris and Giovannis, while according to the indictment the two accepted from Almi Armous, the granting of an irregular advantage, i.e. the obtaining of financial benefit, for themselves and/or for the benefit of other persons, namely Nissini Ltd, Lanuza Ltd and Fidescorp Ltd, in order to exercise improper influence on a public official, in order for him to perform an act or omission related to the exercise of his duties for the acceptance of the submission and acceleration of the examination of an application for the exceptional naturalization of the foreign Zeine Armouche, as a Cypriot citizen, without meeting the requirements of the Civil Registry Law.
The other two categories include Syllouris and Giovanni in connection with Gornovsky's naturalization. The aforementioned are accused of "conspiring among themselves, such as by fraud or other fraudulent means, to defraud the Republic, for the naturalization of Gornovsky", without the latter having obtained a residence permit in Cyprus.
Finally, the three persons are accused of obtaining financial benefit, for themselves and/or for the benefit of other persons, in order to obtain his naturalization in violation of the law (Civil Registry Law). The indictment also includes names of companies linked to the defendants. The director of a company of interests of Chr. Giovanni, Antonis Antoniou, is accused in the case of the alleged investor (4th and 5th category) with the other two.
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The Famagusta Permanent Assize Court acquitted a 20-year-old British man who was facing two charges of raping a 25-year-old Danish tourist.
The complainant's version was that on August 31, 2023, the 20-year-old took advantage of the fact that she was under the influence of alcohol and followed her to an apartment in Ayia Napa with another person and a friend. Then, according to her complaint, he had intercourse with her against her will. The 20-year-old, who had been arrested after the young woman complained to the Famagusta ICF, denied guilt and said she consented to have sex in the apartment.
The girl was then examined by a forensic pathologist who found no injuries on her body. During the hearing, the complainant testified before the Permanent Assize Court, who repeated her allegations. The court in its decision found her testimony unreliable and rejected it in its entirety.
With this in mind, he acquitted and acquitted the 20-year-old, who was represented by lawyers Stalo Stylianou and Marina Passis, from the two charges he faced.
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The 57-year-old man who on Sunday, January 19, attempted to murder his 46-year-old wife in Peyia is now being referred to a direct trial before the Assize Court. At the end of his eight-day detention order today, the 57-year-old was brought back before the Pafos District Court, which referred the case for direct trial to the Assize Court that will meet on March 27.
The case file had already been sent to the Legal Service since the examinations of the case have been completed by the Police. The 57-year-old confessed to the attempted murder and a statement has already been taken from the attacker's 46-year-old wife. Pending trial at the Assize Court, the 57-year-old defendant will remain in custody, the court ruled today.
The attempted murder unfolded on the evening of Sunday, January 19, outside the couple's residence. According to police investigations, the cause of the attempted murder of a 46-year-old woman and her 57-year-old husband is the couple's disagreements and confrontations over various family issues. The attempted murder occurred at 6:00pm that day and the 46-year-old herself notified the Pegeia Police Station by phone that her husband shot her with a shotgun outside their home.
Members of the local police station went to the scene and found the woman bleeding with a gunshot wound. An ambulance was called and transported her to the Accident and Emergency Department of Paphos Hospital and then to Nicosia General Hospital where she remained in intensive care for days, eventually escaping the danger to her life.
The perpetrator remained at the site after the attempt and was arrested by members of the Pegeia Police Station.
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The case of the doctor who asked for and took money illegally from his patient's parents does not seem to be the only one.
Filenews received two complaints concerning, in the first case, a GHS doctor specializing in orthopaedics who allegedly asked a patient for €150 in order to schedule an earlier appointment and in the second case, a doctor of another surgical specialty who asked for money from his patients in order to expedite surgery. The doctor reportedly cited the anaesthesiologist who would be involved in the surgery, whom he told his patient he had to pay.
The chairman of the Committee, Efthymios Diplaros, also referred to complaints that reached the Parliamentary Committee on Health in recent months.
As Mr. Diplaros said, "We have specific information from patients' relatives about doctors who are contracted with the GHS and request, at least in two cases, specific amounts either to put some surgeries faster or to expedite appointments."
Unfortunately, the chairman of the House Health Committee later told Filenews, "these citizens, no matter how much we urge them, are afraid to proceed with a formal complaint so that the cases can be properly investigated and penalties imposed where and where it appears that doctors have broken the law."
