Filenews 12 February 2025
Police have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with an investigation into a mobile phone store burglary in Paphos.
The burglary occurred between the dates of February 10 and 11 and was reported yesterday by the store manager. A small amount of money was stolen in coins, four mobile phones and two tablets, with a total value of six thousand euros.
Members of the Pafos ICF went to the scene and further examinations revealed evidence against a 33-year-old man who had recently been working at the store. The 33-year-old was arrested and is in custody.
Investigations are ongoing by the Police.
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A fire broke out on a motorcycle parked outside the church of Timios Stavros in Limassol on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the spokesman of the Fire Service, Andreas Kettis, the fire caused serious damage to the motorcycle. In order to extinguish the fire, the intervention of members of the Fire Brigade was required.
It is noted that the motorcycle was stolen last Friday, February 7.
Police are investigating the case.
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The Department of Customs and Excise is investigating the activities of the cigarette smuggling ring from the occupied areas, which were transported by boat to Israel through the free areas.
The case, which is the largest of its kind investigated in recent years, has detained two 37-year-olds, a 39-year-old man and a 31-year-old man all from Israel, believed to be members of a ring. The detention order against the 34-year-old, who had been arrested in a hotel room, expired today and an investigative statement was taken before she was released.
It is recalled that on Sunday, after a large operation by the Police with the Department of Customs and Excise, 10,503 boxes of cigarettes were found on a boat in the fishing port of Larnaka, which if bought at a normal price would cost more than €500,000. In the possession of the suspects, approximately €50,000, expensive watches, a van, as well as another vehicle were found and confiscated.
According to Filenews information from the Department of Customs, searches were carried out on vessels suspected of transhipment of cigarettes and their transport to Israel, without so far finding anything related to the case. In addition, another premises are being sought, for which it is suspected that there are other quantities of tobacco products from the occupied areas.
In the meantime, persons who had dealings with those arrested were summoned to testify, in an effort to gather more information about the activity of the ring and the period of their activity in Cyprus.
The Israeli Customs authorities were also informed about the case, from which information about those arrested was requested.
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A fire broke out early on Wednesday in a car parked in a field off Dimokratias Avenue in Paphos.
According to the Police, the vehicle, owned by a 21-year-old man, was transported to the scene on Sunday 09/02, with a trailer, after a mechanical failure he had suffered.
Today in the morning around 04:25 a fire broke out in the vehicle. Members of the Fire Brigade went to the scene to extinguish it.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the ICF of Pafos.
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Police are investigating a case involving 80 people suspected of operating a military-style organisation engaged in property fraud.
The investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) began after a law firm reported irregularities involving a foreclosed property, leading to the discovery of what police describe as an organised criminal group.
Two suspects have been arrested and a third is being sought.
Nicosia district court approved eight-day detention orders for the two suspects – a man and a woman – following their arrest.
According to police, the group operates under a military-style hierarchy, uses counterfeit documents bearing their own seals, and displays American military insignia. Members reportedly present themselves as postal workers, military personnel, and judicial officers.
The first suspect appeared in court wearing a jacket with a US Department of the Navy emblem and military rank insignia.
Evidence suggests the group maintains contact with two individuals outside Cyprus whom they refer to as “generals”, the investigator added.
The suspects allegedly refuse to recognise the Republic of Cyprus whilst paradoxically using a forged state seal on documents. Police have recovered papers resembling military court proceedings during their investigation.
Members of the group have sent letters to various government departments and organisations, signing with initials and fingerprints, investigators said. Many participants reportedly have cases pending with non-performing loan management companies.
The first suspect, appearing without legal representation, told the court: “I am under the American flag” and claimed to have connections with the US government and former President Donald Trump.
Police are investigating potential charges including conspiracy to commit felony, publishing false news likely to disturb public order or undermine confidence in state institutions, impersonation, and participation in a criminal organisation.
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Limassol District Court on Tuesday handed down a suspended six-month prison sentence to a 49-year-old driver who fatally struck a pedestrian in March 2022.
The driver was found guilty of causing death by reckless or dangerous act and crossing a solid white line when his vehicle struck Aristotelis Erotokritou, 76, on Paphos Street in Limassol.
The court suspended the sentence for three years and suspended the defendant’s driving licence for three months. Eight penalty points were also added to his licence.
In determining the sentence, the judge considered mitigating factors including the pedestrian’s dark clothing and crossing at an unmarked location, as well as the 24-month delay in filing the case.
The incident occurred when the driver, exiting a petrol station onto Paphos Street, attempted to cross two lanes of traffic. Erotokritou was crossing the road to reach a bakery when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at Limassol General Hospital.
“Justice has not been served… Limassol leads in fatal accidents, and today’s decision sends the message that taking a life will go unpunished,” the victim’s daughter told Filenews.
