Friday, April 11, 2025

CRIME ROUND UP

 Filenews 10 April 2025



The three months of imprisonment imposed by the District Court on a defendant for cases of forgery and circulation of a forged document were made three years by the Court of Appeal, which agreed with the points raised by the Attorney General of the Republic in the appeal he registered for the manifestly inadequate sentence of the Court of First Instance. The decision of the Court of Appeal was issued on April 10, 2025.

The accused, who is active in the field of service provision, had admitted 249 charges, with more serious offences, including those of forgery of a document and forgery of an official document, circulation of a forged official document, causing execution by false representations of certification of a forged official document and money laundering. The purpose of the defendant was to ensure the registration of Greek nationals as tax residents in Cyprus and to avoid taxation of their earnings in Greece.

On behalf of the Attorney General of the Republic, the case was handled by Ms. Sotiroula Michael, Public Prosecutor.

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Pafos Live 11 April

A four-year prison sentence was imposed today by the Paphos Assize Court on a 23-year-old man for a case involving the sexual abuse of a minor, as stated in an announcement by the Protocol of the Paphos District Court.

According to the statement, the sexual abuse involved touching the accused's genitals on the minor's body, over her clothes. 

This sentence was imposed after the defendant pleaded guilty.

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Filenews

The arrest of a 17-year-old was made on Thursday by the Paphos Police, as part of an investigation into a case of beating and malicious damage. The minor was arrested on the basis of a court warrant and detained to facilitate the investigations.

As stated in a police announcement, the case concerns the offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony and causing grievous bodily harm.

According to the evidence under investigation, on Wednesday evening, the Police received information that in an apartment complex in the Eba area, unknown persons threw Molotov cocktails in an open area near the generator of the complex.

Members of various services of the Police as well as the Fire Service, which took over the examinations, rushed to the scene. The fire had been extinguished by residents before the arrival of the Fire Brigade, causing slight damage to the fenced area of the generator.

During the investigation of the incident, the Police received new information that an injured person had been transferred to the Paphos General Hospital. At the hospital, it was found that the injured man was a 24-year-old man, who has a fracture in his jaw and remains hospitalized in the operating room. His health condition is considered out of danger.

From the examinations, it was found that, earlier on the same day, a group of four to five people went to the complex in question and attacked a 26-year-old man, who was hit in various parts of the body. During the attack, the 24-year-old intervened, who was injured and taken to the hospital by his friends.

The 26-year-old reportedly said that the incident is related to a confrontation that preceded at noon on the same day, after a road collision in which a friend was involved. He gave his phone to an unknown person who was at the scene of the traffic accident, in order to defuse the tension.

Later, he received a telephone call from the person in question and, believing that the meeting would be conciliatory, sent his place of residence. There he was attacked by unknown persons.

The Paphos TAE continues the examinations for the case.

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A kiosk that operated in a prisoner's cell from which objects were sold to other convicts at high prices was discussed today at the Nicosia District Court.

Three persons appeared before the Court as suspects, a prison guard, a prisoner and his wife. The Police are investigating against them a case of conspiracy, decency, while in addition for the prison guard, the offenses of abuse of power, extortion of money from a public official, corruption and money laundering are being investigated.

As reported to the Court, a convict gave testimony according to which he was forced to buy products from the prisoner at black market prices.

As an example, the investigator said that while a pack of cigarettes was sold in the prison grocery store for €4, the prisoner had it for €12.

Regarding the prison guard, it was reported that he was in charge of the wing in which the prisoner was located and allowed him to sell the products in exchange for receiving - according to the investigator - 50% of the profits.

As mentioned in the Court, the convicts paid the prisoner's wife with paysafe or Akis Expess and she allegedly paid the prison guard through a credit card.

The Court, after deeming the Police's request justified, recently ordered the detention of all three for eight days.

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A passenger caused an interruption of an EMEL route. He claimed that he is a journalist and will call the channels

A passenger caused the interruption of the route on an EMEL route today at noon, when with threatening moods he approached the driver attempting to beat him because he did not stop outside a designated stop in order for another passenger to disembark. The man in question claimed to be a journalist and threatened to call the TV channels.

The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m., on Paphos Street, when a foreign passenger realized that he had lost his position and asked the driver to stop. The driver replied that he was not allowed to stop outside designated stops and instructed him to return to his seat.

Then, another passenger, realizing the incident, moved threateningly towards the driver, shouting at him and accusing him of racist behaviour. A third passenger intervened and protected the driver from the attack. The driver then stopped the bus at the next stop and alerted the Director of EMEL as well as the Police.

The passengers were transported by another bus, while the passenger who caused the incident refused to get off, despite the instructions of the members of the Force. After some time and after verbally attacking the police officers, claiming that he is a journalist and that he will call the channels, he was finally convinced to disembark, with the intervention of his friends who arrived at the scene. The man in question is expected to be summoned later to the Agios Ioannis Police Station.  Speaking to Filenews, the Director of Development and Communication of EMEL, Petros Theocharidis, underlined that such incidents are relatively frequent and endanger both the integrity of drivers and road safety. "We are constantly looking for ways to eliminate them," he stressed. In all cases, the immediate intervention of the Police is decisive, Mr. Theocharidis pointed out.

The last serious incident recorded was when a passenger broke a bottle and attacked the driver. However, the worst was prevented thanks to the intervention of other passengers and drivers who rushed to the scene. Information from the Police states that the perpetrator was under the influence of drugs.

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The Police made two arrests on Thursday evening (10/04) as part of the checks carried out in view of the basketball Final Four matches.

Specifically, during checks before the start of the match between Anorthosis and APOEL, a small amount of drugs was found in the possession of two fans, while a folding club was found in the possession of the second.

The two suspects were arrested and detained. They were then released to be summoned later.

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The Anti-Narcotics Service (YKAN) is investigating a case involving a 33-year-old man, against whom investigations are being conducted for the offences of illegal possession of a Class C controlled drug, possession for the purpose of supply to other persons, as well as illegal importation of narcotic substances.

Specifically, on April 9, 2025, through a courier company, a parcel containing about 200 pills, which resemble pharmaceutical preparations and fall under Class C of controlled drugs, was imported into Cyprus.

From the examinations that followed, it was found that on April 8, 2025, another package with similar content had been sent to the same declared recipient address.

Based on the above, on April 10, a court search warrant was obtained and members of the Nicosia Police Department proceeded to search the 33-year-old's home.

During the search, a computer, a bank card and mobile phones were located and confiscated. In addition, a package containing 210 pills with a specific inscription was found.

The 33-year-old was arrested for flagrant offenses and was detained. Today he is expected to be brought before the Nicosia District Court for the issuance of a detention order.

The examinations are continuing.

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Serious cases of hare poaching have prevented members of the Game and Fauna Service in recent days.

Specifically, last night and around 21:10, members of the Service, during a night patrol, spotted a vehicle with flashlights on, suspiciously moving on a dirt road, in the area of the dam of the community of Sotira in the Limassol district. After monitoring, the arrest and control of the above suspicious vehicle in which a person was riding was achieved. In a search carried out on the suspicious vehicle, a high-power headlight installed in the vehicle was found, as well as a large number of cartridges, the transport of which in a closed hunting season is prohibited.

The second case concerns an incident that took place on 6/4/2025 at 22:30 in the location "Mazeri" of the community of Argaka in the Paphos district where members of the Service located a vehicle that was suspiciously circulating on a dirt road. The members of our Service approached the suspicious vehicle, signalled to the driver to stop, did not obey and developed speed resulting in a pursuit without being able to stop and inspect the vehicle which did not carry registration plates.

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The two defendants, Hungarian nationals, are expected to appear again before the Nicosia Assize Court on April 16, with their defense lawyers declaring their intention to admit some of the charges they face, in a case of usurpation of Greek Cypriot property in the occupied territories.

During the hearing held today, the defense counsel of the first defendant said that the purpose was to change her client's answers to three more charges, which had been omitted by mistake during the previous trial on April 2. At that time, the defendant in question had already declared admission to 19 of the 63 total charges.

However, due to the absence of one of the three judges for health reasons, he suggested that the change of answers be made in the next trial. The lawyer of the second defendant also mentioned the possibility of admission by her client to specific charges.

Both defense lawyers suggested that during the next trial, the admission procedure should proceed and then the procedure for submitting a request for mitigation of the sentence should be activated.

On the part of the Prosecution, it was mentioned that extensive discussions have been held with the lawyers of the defendants and that "there is an outcome and the other charges will take a different turn". As noted, talks continue with the second defendant in relation to specific charges.

At the next hearing, scheduled for April 16 at 10:30 a.m., the Prosecution intends to present the report of facts regarding the charges for which an admission was made, while the defense is expected to proceed to present factors related to the mitigation of the sentence.

Until then, the two defendants will remain in custody.

It is recalled that the two women allegedly collaborated with a company that operates in the occupied areas and that erects tourist complexes on plots of Greek Cypriot property.

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A total of 10 persons, 4 Cypriots and 6 foreigners, have been arrested by the Larnaca Police Department in connection with the incidents in an apartment building complex in Oroklini, which resulted in the critical injury of a 27-year-old and the serious injury of a two-month-old infant.

As for the 4 Cypriots, one is the 35-year-old alleged coordinator of the operation, who is in custody, while the other three, after being interrogated, were released. The detention order of the 35-year-old, who is suspected of conspiracy to commit a felony, acts aimed at causing grievous bodily harm, causing grievous bodily harm and injury, expires next Monday. Information from Filenews from police sources indicate that the case may be registered before the Court on Monday.

For the three foreigners, moreover, it was found that they were illegally residing in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and their repatriation procedures have begun. Two others, who had been wanted since yesterday, were arrested and it was found that they were illegally residing in Cyprus. According to the Police, if nothing emerges against them in relation to the incidents, their deportation procedures will be initiated. A sixth foreigner, who was arrested yesterday, was found to have a residence permit and after being interrogated, he was released. It is noted that for the case, the Police continue to search for a 31-year-old Greek Cypriot.

The health condition of the 27-year-old from Congo remains, meanwhile, critical. The young man, who suffers blows to the head, is hospitalized under sedation in the ICU of the Nicosia General Hospital.