Tuesday, May 20, 2025

CRIME ROUND UP

Filenews 20 May 2025



On Tuesday morning, at 9:30 a.m., the two suspects who were arrested yesterday by the Police in connection with the attacks on the AEL and SYFI Omonia club in Lakatamia are brought to court for the issuance of a detention order.

According to relevant information, the Police will apply to the Nicosia District Court for the issuance of a detention order for the two suspects, for the purpose of investigating the case.

* * * * * *

Shocking are the revelations about a case of child abuse in Larissa involving a Cypriot mother, and which came to light after a family visit to the hospital last Saturday evening. The 32-year-old mother was arrested by the authorities after it was found that her children, aged 5 and 6, had cigarette marks on their bodies.

The tangle of the case began to unravel when the 32-year-old went to the emergency room at the General Hospital of Larissa with her two children as one of them, a little girl, was facing a health problem. During the examination, the doctors found that the 6-year-old girl had several wounds on her body, which referred to signs of burning with cigarette butts. After finding similar signs in the other child, they alerted the police authorities.

According to police sources, the 6-year-old girl had wounds on her arms and legs, while the 5-year-old boy found corresponding marks on her face, arms, legs, buttocks and spine.

In the forensic examination that took place the next day, older signs of burns were found, a fact that alarmed the authorities about a history of abuse.

The mother, who appeared in Larissa as a victim of abuse from Cyprus, was arrested for domestic violence and for exposing a minor to danger, while the two children are hospitalized in the paediatric clinic of the hospital.

The mother of Cypriot origin, as reported by the Athenian press, after being arrested, will be taken to the investigator's office this morning. At the same time, the authorities are looking for a 50-year-old man from Larissa who is a partner of the 32-year-old.

In audio messages she sent to a friend of hers when she was at the General Hospital of Larissa with her children, she said "we should not come because they saw the wounds here in the children and I am afraid that they will complain to me and call for provisions and such. We should not have brought the children, I'm afraid of such things, I don't trust anyone".

A friend of the 32-year-old also spoke to STAR, who said "I had seen the signs", adding that when he asked her about them, she replied "they scratch".

The father of the two children also spoke to the channel, saying "to see if they have been abused, to take them back, it is dangerous". He claimed that the 32-year-old "has another child in Cyprus who was taken into custody".

The 32-year-old, however, denies the accusations, pointing to another person as the abuser of her children. "I haven't harmed my children, I don't smoke, someone else has done it," she reportedly claimed.

The 32-year-old is expected to give more explanations to the investigator today. According to the Star, police investigations are focused on three men who, neighbours said, were breaking into her home.

These are her partner who helped her financially, her ex-husband whom she had reported for abusing her, and her stepfather who lives in Cyprus.

* * * * * *

The 42-year-old accused driver was acquitted of the charge of causing death due to a reckless, or dangerous act, in violation of Article 210 of the Criminal Code, for the fatal road accident that occurred in November 2020 on the coastal road of Limassol, with the victim being 62-year-old cyclist Andreas Iakovou.

According to the facts of the case, the defendant on 7/11/20, while driving his car on 28th October Avenue, a coastal road of Limassol in an easterly direction, at the height of the public garden and while keeping the right lane, hit and dragged the unfortunate cyclist, who entered the road in a north-south direction.

The judge, in her decision today, at the stage of prima facie, acquitted the accused, stating that, "the testimony presented by the Prosecution before a Court does not constitute testimony which, at its peak, the Court could rely on it and condemn". Therefore, she acquitted the accused in the most serious charge.

The lawyers of the accused, Antonis Antoniou and Froso Veresier, proceeded to make speeches regarding the second charge that their client faces, which concerns driving at excessive speed. Subsequently, the Court reserved its decision on the second charge till early June.

The unfortunate cyclist, according to examinations by the members of the Traffic Police, in his attempt to cross with his bicycle before the photo-controlled pedestrian crossing, was hit and swept away by the 42-year-old's vehicle. From the violent impact of the vehicle, the 62-year-old was thrown onto the asphalt, resulting in a blow to the head and instant death.

* * * * * *

A minor has been identified and two other persons are being sought in connection with the attack against three young people in the Old Port that was committed on Saturday night.

The authorities proceeded to locate a 16-year-old, who was interrogated and accused in writing as he is allegedly involved in the incident. The case proceeds in accordance with the relevant legislation for children in conflict with the law.

At the same time, investigations continue to identify two more people who allegedly participated in the attack. According to the data under examination, around 21:00 on Saturday evening, while the three minors were in the area of the Limassol dock, they were allegedly approached by a group of other young persons, who attacked and beat them.

The minors went to the Limassol General Hospital, where they received first aid and were discharged.

* * * * * *

The Limassol Police Department is investigating a case of robbery committed on Monday evening, in the area of Kato Polemidia.

Specifically, around 11.30 p.m., a food delivery man, aged 34, was attacked during the delivery of an order.

The 34-year-old was allegedly initially approached by a young man, about 20 years old, who presented himself as the recipient of the order.

Then, according to the 34-year-old, eight to ten other persons appeared with covered features (they were wearing hoods), who beat him and took away a waist bag, which contained, a mobile phone, a sum of money, personal documents, as well as other items.

The 34-year-old visited the Limassol General Hospital, where he received first aid and was detained for further hospitalization.

The TAE Limassol continues its examinations.

* * * * * *

During a traffic check that took place yesterday afternoon on Makariou Avenue, in Kokkinotrimithia, members of the Traffic Police Headquarters (OPOD) stopped a vehicle driven by a 33-year-old man for control.

From the examinations that followed, it was found that the 33-year-old was driving without a license, without insurance, with an expired license and without a certificate of suitability.

In addition, the vehicle was declared as stolen on May 15, 2025 at the Nicosia Central Police Station, resulting in the driver being arrested for the flagrant offense of illegal possession of property.

From further examinations carried out through the Aliens and Immigration Service (YAM), it was established that the 33-year-old is illegally on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Kokkinotrimithia Police Station continues the examinations.

* * * * * *

The Court of the British Bases of Dhekelia sentenced 46-year-old Kostas Sotiriou, alias Kotas, to 28 years of minimum imprisonment for the case of the brutal murder of Charalambos Konstantinidis, 52 years old, from Paralimni, on June 25, 2024 in Ormidia.

The 46-year-old was found guilty of premeditated murder after a hearing by three senior judges of the Assize Court, who rushed from Britain. The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment, as is the case in Cypriot courts when someone is found guilty of premeditated murder. The difference in the UK's criminal code is that judges have set the minimum length of time the accused must remain in prison and when his request for release must be considered. It is noted that the starting point for the minimum prison time for an adult starts from 15 and reaches up to 30 years. The court counted the premeditation of the crime as well as the use of excessive force as aggravating factors. The only mitigating factor recognized is the previous good character of the accused. Given that he was arrested last June and is in custody, he will be able to apply for release after 27 years and 37 days.

So far, it remains unknown where the convicted man will serve his sentence, since he did not give consent to the Central Prison. At this stage he will be held in BB prisons, however, in its decision, the Assize Court clarified that he may be transferred to a UK prison.

It is recalled that the murder of the 52-year-old was committed on the evening of June 25 at the 46-year-old's car paint shop in Ormidia. The two had a financial difference and argued. Then the 46-year-old shot twice in the direction of the 52-year-old, injuring him in the face and then hit him in the head with an iron. The Police of the Bases were alerted by a resident, however, the perpetrator escaped in a car that was in the garage and the next day he surrendered.

BB Lieutenant Officer Phanos Christodoulou said: "This sentence was achieved because of the excellent cooperation between the BB Police and the BB Attorney General's office. We are very pleased that Mr. Konstantinidis' family saw justice served with this long sentence. As I have said before, nothing can ease the pain of losing a loved one, but at the very least, the perpetrator of this crime has been sentenced to a long prison sentence for this horrific crime."