Pafos Live 30 January 2025
Police attribute to arson a fire that exploded last night in a vehicle belonging to a Syrian resident of Pegeia.
From the fire that broke out in the vehicle that was parked outside the residence where Syros lives, in the old center of the municipality, the vehicle was almost completely destroyed.
According to the first indications the vehicle had not suffered mechanical failure but no obvious traces of flammable material have been detected. The scene has been cordoned off after the fire was extinguished by the fire brigade and tests will be carried out by experts today.
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A 24-year-old Greek Cypriot who regularly employs the authorities was wanted for days after failing to appear in a case at the assize court.
The 24-year-old was located and arrested last night. He faces charges of burglary and theft as well as possession, use and trafficking of drugs.
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Three vehicles that were circulating on the roads without the necessary certificates of suitability and without registration certificates were impounded at the Paphos police station, with charges made to the owners.
Another three drivers were found driving under the influence of alcohol last night, while last night's checks also reported another 22 drivers for other traffic violations.
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Filenews
Incidents involving throwing objects between fans occurred yesterday after the end of the match between Anorthosis and Apollon.
According to the Police, after the end of the football match held at the "Antonis Papadopoulos" stadium, during the departure of the fans, there was an incident with throwing objects between the fans of the two teams. The incident ended after the intervention of the Police.
The throwing of objects damaged two panes of glass in the stadium.
The ICF of Larnaca continues to examine the incident.
In another development, the Police arrested three people before the start of the match, to facilitate investigations into a case of malicious damage. Specifically, around 5.10 p.m. Yesterday, members of the anti-riot squad of the Police, who were in the area of the Kalo Chorio roundabout, as part of the policing operation of the football match between Anorthosis and Apollon, saw unknown persons spray-painting on the wall of the roundabout.
The police moved towards them, as a result of which the strangers fled and entered a car parked nearby. There they were intercepted by members of the Police. It was found that inside the vehicle were two 28-year-olds and a 24-year-old, who were arrested for the offence of causing malicious damage.
A search of the car followed, where two paint sprays and a pair of gloves were located and confiscated.
The three arrested were taken to the offices of the ICF of Larnaka, where, after being interrogated, they were charged in writing and dismissed to be summoned later.
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An unbelievable incident took place yesterday around 19:30 in the evening, when members of the Police, following information received by the Force about a car possibly driven by a drunk driver, in the area of Mesa Geitonia in Limassol, found a 44-year-old woman driving under the influence of alcohol with her two-year-old child in the vehicle.
The 44-year-old driver of the vehicle was subjected to an alcohol test with a final reading of 92μg% instead of 22μg% and was arrested for a flagrant offence and taken into custody.
Further examinations revealed that the vehicle in question had previously been involved in a road collision with another vehicle, which did not result in any injuries.
As mentioned above, in the vehicle was the 44-year-old's two-year-old child, who with her consent, was picked up by a social worker.
The Limassol Traffic Police continues the examinations.
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The 21-year-old defendant was found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt today by the Permanent Assize Court of Limassol on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor. The hearing was held behind closed doors, with the details of the case horrifying. The case was brought to light by Filenews on September 28, 2023.
According to the indictment, the offences were committed between April and May 2023 in the Limassol district. According to the minor, while she was with her friends at a café in Germasogeia, one of them suggested that she meet the 21-year-old. The minor accepted and a short time later, the accused arrived at the scene and picked her up and her friends, heading to a viewpoint in Limassol.
At some point, the 21-year-old began committing lewd acts against the 14-year-old in his vehicle in the presence of her two friends. Then, after stopping at the point of view, he continued abusing the minor, forcing her to perform acts that cause revulsion. The 14-year-old, although in her complaint, claimed that she was a victim of rape, however, this was not substantiated.
The 21-year-old defendant remained free on parole until today, but after today's conviction, the Assize Court ordered his detention until the imposition of the sentence. The next hearing was set for early February, where his lawyer, A. Ioannou, will proceed with an argument for the mitigation of his sentence.
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The two accused foreigners involved in the Potamia incident, which resulted in the death of a 24-year-old man from Pakistan, are being referred to a direct trial before the Nicosia Permanent Assize Court today.
The 39-year-old man from Cameroon, who was the driver of a rental vehicle in which the 24-year-old was fatally wounded by a police officer, and the 37-year-old Iranian, who is believed to be the driver of a second vehicle, were brought to the Nicosia District Court.
An indictment was filed against them on four charges, two of which carry a prison sentence of up to life imprisonment. Specifically, the following are charged:
-For attempted murder against members of the Police
-For acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm or prevent arrest
-For conspiracy to commit a felony
-Facilitation of illegal entry, transit and unauthorised entry.
The first two charges carry prison sentences of up to life. In particular, the second category, which was added following instructions from the Legal Service, is based on Article 228 of the Penal Code which states that: Whoever, for the purpose of mutilation, disfigurement, disability or grievous bodily harm to another, or for the purpose of resisting the lawful arrest or detention of any person or of preventing it;
(a) by any means unlawfully injures or causes grievous bodily harm to another person.
(b) unlawfully attempts to strike in any way another, with any kind of projectile or knife or other dangerous or offensive weapon, etc., is guilty and punishable by life imprisonment.
The two defendants will remain in custody until their trial, which will begin before the Assize Court on March 18.
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A robbery case committed against a 25-year-old man, a food delivery man, is being investigated by the Police in Nicosia. As part of the investigation of the case, one person, aged 16, was arrested.
According to the evidence under investigation, at around 10.10pm on January 21, the 25-year-old went to deliver a food order to an area in Deftera. During the delivery of the food, he was approached by three persons who received the order and at the same time, one of the three persons attacked him by hitting him with a metal rod on the head. The three people then stole the 25-year-old's motorcycle and fled.
The 25-year-old, who did not suffer any injuries from the attack, reported the robbery around 11:00 that evening. Members of the Police conducted examinations in the area, and the next day, January 22, they located the motorcycle that had been stolen, in an open spot, in the area of Defteras.
Subsequent examinations revealed evidence against a 16-year-old minor. On Tuesday, January 28, a court warrant was issued for his arrest for police investigations. The 16-year-old was arrested yesterday afternoon and after being questioned, he was released later last night.
The ICF Nicosia continues the examinations.
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A fire broke out in a 26-year-old man's car at 23:30 last night on a rural road in Avgorou, in the free Famagusta district. According to initial police investigations, it was arson.
According to the Police, the intervention of the Famagusta Fire Brigade was needed to extinguish the fire. As a result of the fire, the vehicle was completely destroyed.
According to its owner, the car was previously parked in an open area outside his home in Avgorou.
The scene is guarded by members of the Police. Preliminary examinations revealed that the fire in the car was set maliciously. The ICF of Famagusta is investigating.
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Following a series of arrests by SBA police over the Christmas and New Year period as part of the operation codenamed "Santa Claus", four men are due to appear in court next month accused of drug possession.
The Akrotiri Police Directorate revealed that a total of 62 arrests were made between December and January for "various other offences", including three for possession of stolen goods, 10 for illegal residence and 18 for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Some were found with a small amount of drugs in their possession.
The operation, codenamed "Santa Claus", aimed to combat crime, focusing on the illegal supply of drugs, in Trachoni and Ypsonas.
In separate raids in December, police seized 50 ecstasy pills, 50 grams of MDMA or methamphetamine and a small amount of cannabis, the total value of which is believed to be around €2,500.
Of the four arrested, one was Cypriot, two from Slovakia and one from Belarus and all resided in Trachoni.
The Assistant Police Director of Akrotiri, Superintendent Konstantinos Petrou, stressed the importance of this operation for the safety of those who live and work in the areas. "Drugs destroy the foundations of our communities, harm lives and the future. The tireless work of law enforcement authorities is crucial to combat this scourge, not only through enforcement, but also by building trust, promoting prevention and restoring hope where despair has taken root."
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The Department of Customs and Excise seized a quantity of clothing and professional tools, following an intelligence assessment and a coordinated operation with members of the Office for Combating Intellectual Property Theft and Illegal Betting.
According to an announcement, specifically, after a search of the premises of a 42-year-old man with Greek citizenship, 1170 pieces of clothing and stickers of well-known brands, as well as 122 pieces of professional power tools with a number of three-dimensional logos of well-known brands, which were sold in the market to mislead consumers as authentic, were located and confiscated.
The above pieces were confiscated and abandoned by the person involved for destruction while the case is further handled by the Department of Customs.
The Department of Customs and Excise advises the public to be particularly careful when buying products that violate intellectual property rights, especially electrical appliances, as there is an increased risk of accidents or even electric shock.
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The Supreme Court released a Ugandan national who had been detained since November 11 last year at Larnaka airport. The Court found that he was being unlawfully detained and that key articles of the refugee law had been violated.
The applicant comes from Uganda and arrived in Cyprus by air, via Cairo, on 11.11.2024. He held a Cypriot visa for 15 days, issued to him by the Consulate of Cyprus in Nairobi, Kenya. However, during passport control he was not considered a bona fide visitor, so he was not allowed to enter the Republic of Cyprus.
Therefore, he is being held "in a designated confinement room" at Larnaka airport until his departure, scheduled for 14.11.2024. On the above date, the applicant expressed the intention to apply for international protection status, which he did on 19.11.2024.
In his application, he claimed that his life was in danger in his country of origin. His application was examined by the Asylum Service and on 13.12.2024 it was rejected. The applicant was informed accordingly. Against the above decision, he filed an appeal with the Administrative Court of International Protection, thus maintaining his status as an asylum seeker.
Given the continuation of his confinement at Larnaka Airport, he filed an application for habeas corpus. He does not claim that he has been detained for a long time, but that his confinement essentially constitutes detention, as if he were illegal. He thus seeks his release.
According to the Supreme Court, undoubtedly, the applicant, given the pending nature of his appeal, is in the status of an asylum seeker. Consequently, he is entitled to remain free in accordance with section 9F(1) of the Law.
In conclusion, notes Judge G. N. Giasemis, it is established that the applicant is illegally detained in order to justify the approval of his present application. Therefore, habeas corpus is issued, the applicant to be released, immediately.
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Police arrested a 68-year-old man yesterday as part of an investigation into a case involving conspiracy to commit a felony, theft and illegal possession of property.
In a search conducted yesterday by members of the ICF of Nicosia, after evaluating relevant information, two tractors, four generators and a crane were found at the 68-year-old's premises, in a village in the Larnaka district.
The 68-year-old did not give sufficient explanations for their possession, so he was arrested and taken into custody to facilitate interrogations.
The Athienou Police Station continues the examinations.
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The Administrative Court upheld the decision of the Migration Department to detain and deport a European citizen who had been sentenced to prison for possession of child pornography.
According to a statement from the Legal Service, the offence is classified as a particularly serious form of sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, falling within the areas of serious crime of the European Union.
The decision of the Administrative Court was issued on January 29, 2025, following an appeal by the convicted person, who sought the annulment of his detention and deportation orders.
The Court noted that the expulsion was not an automated consequence of the criminal conviction, but was based on an assessment by the authorities, taking into account the nature of the offence and the potential threat posed by the person's stay in the country.
Furthermore, the Court held that the imposition of supervision on the convicted person after his release from prison does not constitute an alternative expulsion measure, as it serves a different purpose.
The case was handled on behalf of the Attorney General by the Lawyer of the Republic A', Katia Chatzidimitriou.
