Filenews 13 February 2025 - by Fanis Makrides
The case with the group of Greek Cypriot citizens suspected of criminal activity all over Cyprus is also being treated by the Police as a very serious issue for public safety.
The allegations they record in their letters and documents about their affiliation to the American flag, as well as their positions on non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, although they cannot be taken seriously, however, the dimensions of the case are how much they are underestimated.
According to official police positions, the suspected instigators have already gathered around them supporters from all over Cyprus who share their "philosophy" (at least 80 people), while testimonies emerge about illegal action of these individuals and more specifically about drawing up false documents and creating a climate of fear among other fellow citizens.
In fact, some of the alleged participants in this group have one thing in common. They had loans that were not performing and their contracts have now been bought by troubled loan servicing companies. In other words, these are persons who have been put in a difficult position due to economic factors. Besides, the sale of a property highlighted the case that we brought to light yesterday and caused a sensation all over Cyprus.
All the above, which are being investigated by the Police, are supported by yesterday's reports by the head of the investigation team of the ICF Police Headquarters to the Nicosia District Court for the purpose of issuing detention orders for two suspects, 62-year-old P.S. and 43-year-old M.S., for a period of eight days. A third person, a man, is wanted on the basis of an arrest warrant. He is 45-year-old Costas Patsalides from Limassol
The tangle
The tangle of the case began to unravel at the end of January. On 22/1/2024, a relevant complaint was forwarded to the ICF Headquarters by a law firm, which had handled a client's issue. The customer in question acquired an apartment which had been sold by auction and which was rented by the 2nd suspect, 43-year-old M.S., on the basis of a contract she had with the previous owner of the property.
Based on the testimony obtained by the police, the new owner of the apartment instructed the law firm to proceed with eviction proceedings against M.S. because, as he claimed, the latter violated the terms of the rental agreement.
After the law firm sent relevant letters to M.S., the case and the alleged modus operandi of the suspects began to emerge. The 43-year-old tenant, according to ICF Headquarters, reacted after the letters. After that, the 62-year-old, P.S. (1st suspect) and the person who is wanted, in early December 2024 went to the law firm and appeared before the lawyer handling the eviction case, as protectors of the 43-year-old M.S., in the capacity of "federal postal/judicial officers".
This fact had been reported by the lawyer and at an earlier stage to the central Nicosia Police Station, where he had handed over relevant documents and booklets. Among them was one called "Military Postal Services – Cyprus Postmaster".
According to the allegations contained in the lawyer's complaint to the police, when the 62-year-old P.S. visited him with the wanted man at the law firm where he works, they wore a shirt with an embossed sign that read "US Department" on the front, spoke the Greek language using their own terminology and told the lawyer that "they belong to the army of the 4th flag alliance and that the 43-year-old M.S. (2nd suspicious) is under their protection'.
As mentioned before the Court last Tuesday, after the said meeting at the law firm, P.S. (1st suspect), and the person who is wanted, sent further documents to the law firm, which were handed over to the Police.
According to what the ICF investigator said yesterday before the Court, P.S. (1st suspect), M.S. (2nd suspect) and the person wanted, "have created an intimidating situation for the lawyer and the owner of the property, but also their families". He also said that "they use military and legal terminology, use seals of the Republic of Cyprus and sign documents with their fingerprints."
In support of her positions, the investigator of the ICF Headquarters referred to a testimony submitted to the Police concerning communication between the new owner of the apartment and the P.S. (1st suspect). The latter reportedly told the complainant that he "doesn't know where he's getting into trouble." She told him that she shouldn't buy the apartment without asking, and told him that "U.S. Army representatives will come and find you."
As the investigator told the District Court yesterday, the new owner of the apartment and complainer in the case, although he did not take seriously the 62-year-old's words, contacted him the next day to reassure him. But the 62-year-old told him it was "too late and one of the American soldiers set off to find you."
From what was said the day before yesterday during the proceedings in the Court for the examination of the application for a detention order, it appears that both the new owner of the apartment, as well as the lawyer who was called to handle the case, were concerned about the behaviour of the suspects.
At the Hellenic Competition Commission
During the preliminary examinations of the police, more evidence emerged about the actions of the 62-year-old, but also of the wanted person. Their names and the peculiar way (initials on a stamp and use of fingerprints) that they countersigned documents appear in letters that citizens had and reached loan management companies. These documents, used and signed by the 62-year-old detainee and the wanted man, invoked treaties, decrees and legislation that are unknown. Some of them, as we noted, came to the attention of loan servicing companies, while on the basis of what was reported to the Court in one case they even reached the president of the Commission for the Protection of Competition (PSC). According to the testimony of a PSC official, these documents bore seals of the Republic of Cyprus and other organizations, which at first sight are not genuine.
One such document referred to the two aforementioned as "violating the manifesto of their organization." Another sent to a loan servicing company recorded claims from a distressed loan holder, which claimed money from the company and was cited by the U.S. Treasury.
As we noted yesterday, testimonies put before the Police indicate that these persons act under their own military code, do not comply with their obligations as citizens of the Republic, draw up documents using their own seals and present them as official to achieve their purposes, while employing symbols that refer to official emblems used by the USA.
Its members present themselves as postal officers, military officers, judicial officers and judges, and seem to have a hierarchy. Moreover, although they do not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, however, as stated in the Court, they use a seal with the coat of arms of the Republic. The examinations of the ICF Headquarters have also identified documents that resemble military court minutes.
The 62-year-old and the 43-year-old appeared in court yesterday without legal representatives. The former told the bench that "I am subject to the American flag," adding that in a sense he is an American citizen. He said he was in regular contact with a U.S. official and had ties to the U.S. government, specifically Donald Trump. He also said that he is acting on the basis of an international decree (he invoked it), which legitimizes his actions. "I am not a person, I am an entity," he said.
Examinations abroad
The ICF Headquarters, which succeeded in issuing 8-day detention orders against the 62-year-old and the 43-year-old, will examine whether members of the alleged criminal organization are financially exploiting citizens. At the same time, requests for assistance will be made to authorities abroad, where their associates are allegedly located.
As of last night the person wanted had not been arrested. However, he appeared in a video that was made public expressing dissatisfaction with the handling of the Cyprus Police.
It should be noted that in a TV show of SIGMA ("Noon kai Kati"), a citizen claimed that a person who allegedly participated in this group, asked her for a fee to handle her case.
The offences investigated against suspects:
>> Conspiracy to commit a Felony (imprisonment for up to seven years)
>> Conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor
>> Possession of a plaque or instrument used for the manufacture of seals presented as official seals in the Republic (up to one year imprisonment and fine)
>> Publication of false news likely to undermine public order or public confidence in the state or its organs (imprisonment for up to two years)
>> Impersonation by a public official (three years' imprisonment)
>> Participation and acceptance of crimes (up to ten years or with a fine of up to fifty thousand pounds)
>> Participation in a criminal organization (subject to three years' imprisonment)
>> Threat (imprisonment not exceeding three years)
>> Abuse of power
>> Drawing up and circulating a false document (general forgery is subject to three years' imprisonment)
