Filenews 10 May 2025
The Police proceeded to the arrest of the contractor of the building where the 43-year-old plumber Giorgos Constantinou lost his life, last Wednesday in Limassol.
Rapid developments are taking place around the fatal work accident that occurred the day before yesterday in a building under renovation in Germasogeia, where 43-year-old plumber Giorgos Constantinou lost his life while working. The unfortunate man was performing pipe installation work inside the supply elevator shaft. The construction site remained closed until today, as a notice of prohibition of work was issued.
For the case, the Limassol TAE proceeded to the arrest of the 43-year-old construction contractor, after testimonies and evidence were found during the investigation of the tragedy. The contractor was arrested for the offences of causing death by negligence and interfering with a police investigation. Due to the malaise he felt, he was taken to a private clinic, where he is hospitalized. The procedure for his detention is expected to take place at the Limassol District Court.
As revealed by Filenews in a report the day before yesterday, the unfortunate plumber, under circumstances that are being investigated, seems to have fallen with his head into the void inside the shaft, in which there were open holes. These holes should have been covered, which - according to the examinations - was not the case at the time of the accident. The same information states that, after the tragic incident, some people placed makeshift placards to cover them. The fact that the holes were found covered afterwards was put under the microscope of both the investigators of the Limassol TAE and the officials of the Labour Inspection Office. This is the reason why the authorities proceeded to arrest the contractor.
Equally, from the outset, it was investigated whether – and to what extent – safety and health measures were in place in the workplace to prevent workers from being exposed to risk. Authoritative information on the website states that serious safety-related problems were identified at this construction site. Following the detection of these omissions, the Labour Inspection Office issued a work ban notice to suspend all activities until the necessary measures were taken to remove the risk. Work on the construction site remains suspended.
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The new fatal road accident that occurred on Friday night in Limassol, with a 27-year-old food delivery man as a victim, is shocking. Six months pregnant was the passenger in the vehicle that allegedly caused the accident, attempting an illegal right turn.
As the Limassol Traffic Police officer, Marios Charalambous, said in statements from the scene of the accident, the accident happened around 8:35 p.m., when a 21-year-old driver, moving on Dionysiou Street in a southbound direction, attempted an illegal right turn at the junction with Makariou Avenue
This move resulted in the arrest of a passing car, driven by a 25-year-old man from Limassol, in an easterly direction. From the collision, the second vehicle veered off course, moved uncontrollably and hit a motorcyclist, who was moving in a westerly direction on Makariou Avenue.
The 27-year-old distributor was fatally injured. In the first vehicle was also a young woman, six months pregnant, who was reportedly transferred to a private clinic as a precautionary measure and is in good health.
A helmet was found at the scene, while alcohol and narcotics tests were carried out on the drivers involved, with negative results.
Asked if the possibility of excessive speed by the 25-year-old driver is also being considered, Mr. Charalambous noted that it is something that is the subject of the investigation.
The 21-year-old driver of the first vehicle is expected to be taken to the Limassol Traffic Police for testimony, while it is not excluded that an arrest warrant will be issued.
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The Nicosia Assize Court today imposed heavy sentences on the two Hungarian women who admitted charges of usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.
He sentenced the first defendant to 2 1/2 years in prison for the 21 charges she faced, and the second defendant was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the six charges of usurpation. The sentences will begin today, however, the time they remain in detention from 11/10/2024 will be taken into account.
The Court held that the offences relating to properties which have been in possession since 1974 and for which there is an increase due to the cases pending in the courts were particularly serious.
The three judges pointed out that the fact that the Republic does not exercise effective control over the occupied areas, under the blessings of the occupying power, people usurp Greek Cypriot properties.
According to the facts, the two acted as brokers on behalf of the so-called Cyprus construction company, which belongs to a Turkish Cypriot businessman, in exchange for a percentage of sales. Specifically, one admitted six charges and the other 21, in relation to the promotion and advertising of real estate built on land owned by Greek Cypriots in the areas of Agios Ambrosios, Akanthos and Kalograia.
The defendants faced a total of 63 charges. After their admission to the above charges, the Prosecution suspended the criminal prosecution for the rest.
This is the second case of embezzlement of Greek Cypriot property for which a penalty is imposed, after the conviction by the Briton John Gary Robb, who was sentenced in 2011 to 10 months in prison. Four other similar cases are currently pending before the Courts.
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A carabinati connection of a person who resided in Cyprus with the Alexandroupolis espionage case that became known after the arrest of a 59-year-old man at the end of April.
This results from relevant information obtained by "F" and confirmed to us yesterday by a competent source from the Police Headquarters.
The 52-year-old man who allegedly recruited the 59-year-old painter with Greek citizenship to work for Russia's intelligence service, is directly related to our island. The man known as "Vincent", according to the official information we received, resided in Cyprus between the years 2008-2011.
His traces were lost until last March, when he was arrested in Lithuania. In fact, "F" was duly informed by the Cyprus Police that in mid-March the Lithuanian authorities contacted ours asking for details about "Vincent". The latter is detained as a suspect in the Baltic country.
The connection of the two
The 52-year-old is portrayed by Greek media as an agent of the GRU, the main intelligence directorate of the Russian General Staff. He was the person who allegedly approached the 59-year-old painter of Georgian origin, holder of Greek citizenship and permanent resident of Alexandroupolis. The latter was arrested on April 29, 2025 after a coordinated operation in which the EYP also participated, as a suspect of espionage in peacetime.
He was remanded in custody and faces a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. According to the media that covered the case, the 59-year-old on at least one occasion sent visual material in two instalments and through the WhatsApp application to another person. More specifically, six photographs and five short videos with the movements of warships unloading military material at the port of Alexandroupolis. It is estimated that these were weapons destined for Ukraine.
From the coverage of the news about the arrest of the 59-year-old, his connection with the 52-year-old who had been arrested in March in Lithuania emerged.
He resided in Cyprus
According to a source who spoke to "F" in the previous days, the 52-year-old who initiated the 59-year-old lived in Cyprus. As we noted above, yesterday a competent person from the Police headquarters confirmed his relationship with our island.
Based on what has come to our knowledge, the 52-year-old, known by the name V.C., during his stay in the Republic of Cyprus, did not concern the Police for serious cases.
On the contrary, information transmitted to Greece and the Baltic country where he was arrested, presents him as being linked to criminal groups and the intelligence service of the Russian army. He is said to have recruited the 59-year-old painter.
In fact, according to a relevant report by SKAI, the 52-year-old is alleged to have (1) participated, among other things, in an operation of sabotage and specifically arson of a target in a Balkan country, (2) to be involved in the attempted murder of a former Russian agent who defected and is hiding in the Balkans and (3) to be arrested in March in Lithuania as a suspect for participation in a plan to execute a Russian dissident.
The news of the arrest of the 59-year-old due to the texture of the case took on international dimensions. Indicatively, it was also covered by the French news agency (AFP). The port of Alexandroupolis is characterized as a critical strategic hub for NATO and the United States, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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The Police have poured into the streets in an effort to crack down on crime in the city of Larnaca.
In a relevant announcement, it is stated that a coordinated operation was carried out last night.
During the conduct of the operation:
>> checks were carried out on vehicles and persons
>> patrols were carried out on the main roads of Larnaca and the city centre.
During the operation, 3 persons were arrested, of which 2 wanted persons in connection with cases of robbery, theft and burglary of a residence and one person in connection with an attack on a Police Officer.
Two stolen motorcycles were also identified, as well as traffic complaints.
It is emphasized that in the context of the fight against crime, the operations and actions of the Larnaca ADE will continue at an unabated pace.
