Filenews 1 February 2025
A 57-year-old man was indicted yesterday in a direct trial before the Permanent Assize Court of Nicosia on March 28 for a case concerning, among other things, revenge porn.
The 57-year-old was arrested last week following a 40-year-old woman's complaint that he blackmailed her and disseminated videos and images of pornographic material about her.
The investigation of the case was undertaken by the ICF of Nicosia and today, after the completion of the examinations, the investigators proceeded to register her at the Nicosia District Court with a request for her referral for trial by the Assize Court.
The police's request was granted with the case set to go to trial next March. The prosecution requested that the 57-year-old defendant now remain in custody until his trial, however, the court decided a short while ago to release him with conditions.
It is noted that during the investigation of the case, among other things, the 57-year-old's mobile phone was examined, which appears to contain important evidence that is expected to be submitted during the court proceedings.
The arrested person does not admit to committing the offences investigated against him. However, the indictment filed today in court includes serious charges such as those relating to the offences of extortion and dissemination of pornographic material.
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The Court has decided to detain for a period of five days the 22-year-old who was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of the incidents that took place in Limassol by the fans of Omonia 29M.
The investigators of the ICF Limassol yesterday requested that the 22-year-old be detained for 8 days, but his lawyer objected to the request, arguing that there is insufficient testimony linking his client to the incidents. The Court reserved its decision for today and finally approved the request of the Police, ordering the detention of the suspect for 5 days.
Another 32-year-old man who was wanted was arrested today in connection with the same case. This is another fan, who owns one of the other 3 cars that were spotted in close proximity to the stadium, south of the indoor stadium of Apollon.
According to the facts presented during yesterday's proceedings by the Police, the fans of Omonia 29M who arrived in Limassol were monitored by drone, which transmitted an image to the Operations Center. About 20 vehicles with Omonia 29M fans had gathered in Zygi before heading to Limassol. After the authorities located the places where they had parked and their way to the stadium, the anti-riot teams of the Police intervened, dispersing the gathered and chasing them. Omonia 29M fans wore balaclavas and helmets, while holding offensive instruments such as clubs and stones.
As it turns out, the 22-year-old was allegedly involved in the incidents and was chased by members of the police before he could enter his vehicle, which he had left where other fans had parked. The 22-year-old was with another person who attempted to board the vehicle during the chase.
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Police arrested a 28-year-old man today as part of an investigation into four cases of burglary and theft and one case of arson, committed in Paphos.
Against the 28-year-old, testimony emerged that he was involved in three cases of burglary and theft, committed between the dates January 29-31, 2025, where the total amount of money of 1,600 euros was stolen.
The 28-year-old is also allegedly involved in a case of residential burglary and theft committed between the dates of January 20-23, 2025, where a car was stolen.
The car in question was found on fire today at dawn, in an area of Paphos, while it was found that it was a malicious act.
The ICF of Pafos and the Pegeia Police Station continue the examinations.
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Searches of the Central Prison were carried out yesterday at dawn.
Cross-referenced information tells us that on the basis of a warrant obtained by the Police, a number of prisoners' cells in the penitentiary were searched at 02:00 in the morning.
During the operation, objects that were in the cell of Simon Mistriel Aykut, the person under trial in a case of large-scale usurpation of Greek Cypriot property, were seized.
The same information states that an electronic device used by the detainee and a personal notebook were seized.
Initial information said that as part of a coordinated operation, prisoner cells were searched, as security reasons emerged. However, this is not yet confirmed.
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The authorities have been alarmed and concerned by the successive robberies in Limassol, as incidents continue to be recorded in kiosks in the city. In one case, the perpetrator failed to extort money as the employee pushed him away, while just five minutes later, the two perpetrators acted again, this time together, in another kiosk.
Specifically, around 04:10 in the morning, an unknown person violently invaded a kiosk in the area of Agios Athanasios. Holding a cane, he kicked and broke the glass door of the store. He then approached the employee, who reacted immediately, pushing him away and throwing a plastic chair at him. The robber fled and boarded a vehicle, where an accomplice was waiting for him.
A few minutes later, the two attackers headed to a second kiosk, about 800 meters away. There, they broke into the store at the same time. One immobilized the employee in the warehouse, while the second grabbed €230 as well as several packets of cigarettes.
The movements of the robbers were recorded by the security cameras of the two kiosks. Following the relevant complaints, members of the ICF Limassol rushed to the spots for investigations and data collection.
It is worth noting that this is the fourth kiosk robbery that has occurred in Limassol within a week.
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He did not comply with the Covid-19 decrees, was denounced twice and for defence presented an exemption certificate from a certifying therapist without a signature, which was not accepted by the Court.
He was sentenced the second time to a €1,800 fine, while bail of €400 was activated. The butcher, by profession, filed an appeal which was rejected by the Court of Appeal in its entirety after failing to convince him that his illness did not allow him to take a simple rapid test with a cotton swab.
Initially, the Nicosia District Court on 8.4.22 found the appellant guilty of violating a Decree of the Minister of Health in relation to the measures against coronavirus (covid-19), in violation of Article 7 of the Infectious Diseases Law, Cap. 260. The Appellant had a previous conviction for exactly the same offence and the Judge of First Instance, taking this into account, imposed a fine of €1,800 and also seized the bail of €400, to which the appellant had previously been bound.
His complaint had been made on 20.8.21 when he worked in a butcher shop without having proof (safe pass), thus violating the current Decree to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
It was admitted by the appellant that he had not at any time before the complaint been vaccinated or ill or undergone any of the tests (laboratory or rapid). The butcher argued that due to health issues he had received a "Certificate of Decree Exemption" and a recommendation from a holistic medicine doctor not to carry out, among other things, chemical tests.
That was the reason why he had not carried out that examination. As he had reported to the police officer who reported him, he had a heart problem and the doctor would not allow him to perform this examination. He further said that his doctor had explained to him that the rapid test "has chemicals inside that can cause a problem" and "may contain a substance that is banned in Europe".
In court, the defendant had presented a certificate from a holistic doctor to exclude him. As the Court of Appeal held, 'the alleged medical certificate had, in the present case, been produced through a person other than the appellant and not its alleged author, so it constituted hearsay evidence.
As stated in the judgment of the Court of Appeal, at no point in the certificate was there any indication that it had been prepared by a doctor. At the bottom left of it there were the words "Certifying Therapist", there was no signature, especially when it was granted to a patient of his, who by profession was involved in the sale of food (meat) to citizens and therefore any exception was primarily related to the health of third parties, that is, a matter of the utmost seriousness since it touches respectively on the highest good of life.
On the basis of these findings, the appeal was dismissed both for his non-guilt and for the amount of the fine imposed on him.
