Pafos Live 16 July 2025
A six-year prison sentence was imposed on a 30-year-old man by the Paphos Permanent Assize Court, following the trial of a case of arson of a house, committed last February, in Paphos.
According to the evidence collected by the Police during the investigation of the case and presented before the Permanent Assize Court by the Prosecution, the arson of the residence was committed shortly after 3.00 a.m., on February 11, 2025, when objects on the terrace outside the house were maliciously set on fire, with the fire spreading to the interior of the residence, causing extensive damage.
A family of six people was in the residence, namely, a couple aged 42 and 40, their two children, aged 8 and 12 and the parents of the 42-year-old, aged 73 and 72, who managed to leave the residence.
The two children, their parents and the 73-year-old and the 72-year-old woman underwent examinations at the Paphos General Hospital, where it was found that the 40-year-old mother of the children had suffered 2nd degree burns on the hands and 1st degree on the face, the 42-year-old father and the 12-year-old child had respiratory problems, while the 73-year-old had injuries to the spine and right leg, in his attempt to leave the residence.
During the investigation of the case by the Police, evidence emerged against the 30-year-old, on the basis of which a court warrant for his arrest was issued. He was arrested by members of the Police at the Ledra Palace barricade, in Nicosia, in his attempt to move from the free to the occupied areas of the Republic, on February 18.
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On 15/7/2025, members of the Nicosia OPE, after an information assessment, carried out a coordinated search in 3 commercial vehicles of a 44-year-old Greek Cypriot in the district of Nicosia (2 vehicles) and the district of Larnaca (1 vehicle).
During the search, large quantities of tobacco products were found in the suspect's vehicles, so officers of the Customs Department were notified to take over the case due to their competence. 706 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 192 boxes of 200 heated cigarettes each, and 85 kilograms and 372.5 grams of roll-your-cigarette tobacco were counted and confiscated, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, were counted and confiscated. indications that they were duty-free.
The suspect was arrested for flagrant offenses, while a search followed in 2 houses related to the suspect without any other quantity of tobacco products being found. The suspect was then taken to the Nicosia District Court which issued a 2-day detention order. He was later released after accepting his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case with the payment of an amount of €77,000, plus €3,000 for the return of the 3 seized vehicles and abandonment of the confiscated tobacco products for destruction.
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Paphos Police are investigating a case of speeding and driving under the influence of drugs, after a 35-year-old driver was spotted driving at more than double the speed limit.
Specifically, at around 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 15 , members of the Paphos Traffic Police stopped a vehicle travelling at a speed of 166 kilometers per hour , at a point on the road network in Geroskipou , where the limit is 65 km/h .
The 35-year-old driver was arrested on the spot for police examination purposes and underwent a preliminary drug test , with a positive result .
Subsequently, samples were taken for laboratory examination , while the case is under investigation.
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Filenews
In an incident that took place in the center of Limassol, a member of the Bicycle Police was involved, during an attempt to control a person of African origin.
According to information from Filenews, the incident occurred around noon, during the check in an abandoned building near Iroon Square, where an unknown person was found leaving it. A police officer signalled to the man to check his details. He allegedly refused to comply and tried to escape, resulting in a pursuit by the member of the Cycling Police.
During the attempt to stop the suspect, the man resisted, resulting in the police officer being injured and being bitten in the abdomen by the suspect.
The injured policeman was transported by ambulance to the Limassol General Hospital, where he was given first aid.
The suspect was arrested and as it was established, he is a 35-year-old Nigerian, whose asylum application had been rejected and was illegally residing on the territory of the Republic.
The 35-year-old was detained for the offenses of assaulting a police officer, resisting legal arrest and illegal stay on the territory of the Republic.
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A 32-year-old man was arrested last Tuesday evening in connection with a case of burglary of a house and theft.
According to a complaint by the resident of the residence, the burglary was committed yesterday morning, between the hours of 0500 – 0600. A sum of money of €530 was stolen from the residence.
Police examinations revealed evidence against the 32-year-old. A court warrant was issued for his arrest and he was located and arrested shortly before 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, by members of the Famagusta TAE. The sum of €350 was found in his possession.
At the time of his detection, he was in a state of intoxication, insulted and attacked the members of the Police and resisted during his arrest.
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The living conditions of dozens of dogs found in the residence of a 77-year-old woman in Limassol, who is already accused of animal abuse and is being tried in the Limassol Court, are shocking.
According to information from Filenews, the new intervention of the authorities took place after a complaint from several neighbours of the elderly woman. On Tuesday morning (15/7) all the services involved, Veterinary Services, Animal Police, Health Services of the Municipality of Limassol were mobilized and rushed to the residence of the 77-year-old.
Only volunteer Kyveli Georgiou, a member of an animal welfare organization, was allowed to enter, who received five puppies in poor condition. According to her, more than ten dogs were in the area. The situation is characterized as miserable and dangerous for the animals. In fact, relevant photos posted on social media cause anger and revulsion.
In statements to filenews, the spokeswoman of the Crime Prevention Office of the Headquarters, to which the Animal Police belongs, Nikoleta Tyrimou, confirmed the incident. As he said, the 77-year-old has been convicted of animal abuse committed in 2022 and the decision to impose a sentence is expected in early August.
They were all scared, full of wounds, fleas, visibly sick and terrified. Some of them bit me out of fear," the volunteer who received the animals said on our website.
Filenews had dealt extensively with the oldest animal abuse case being heard in the Limassol Court with the 77-year-old as an accused. As it was reported at the time, the animals were living under horrible conditions in the hands of the owner. The defendant faces 13 charges under the Animal Protection and Welfare Act. In her premises, 11 dogs were found living in inappropriate conditions. The dogs were dehydrated, with chronic diseases and wounds on the legs, while one of them was found in bed and eventually succumbed, despite being immediately transferred to a veterinarian. Two more dogs were found locked in a toilet of the defendant's premises.
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A series of seizures of goods that violate intellectual property rights were carried out by the Customs Department, in cooperation with the Police, in businesses in Nicosia and Limassol, in the context of controls to combat the trafficking of counterfeit products.
On 11/7/2025, officers of the Customs Department were informed by members of the Police regarding a vehicle check, outside a kiosk in Nicosia, during which goods that may infringe intellectual property rights were found. The officers of the Customs Department went to the site and during the control of the goods, a total of 256 pieces of toys and keychains were found and confiscated, which violated the registered intellectual property rights "Labubu". The person involved admitted the offences and abandoned the goods for destruction, while his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted.
On 14/7/2025, after evaluating information, officials of the Customs Department conducted a coordinated search at 2 premises in Nicosia to identify items that violate intellectual property rights. During the investigation, a total of 242 pieces of toys and keychains were identified, which infringed the registered intellectual property rights of "Labubu" and "Stitch" as well as 85 electric fans that did not bear the prescribed CE marking. The owners of the premises admitted the offences and abandoned the goods to be destroyed, while their proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the cases was accepted.
Also on 14/7/2025, after an information assessment, officials of the Customs Department conducted a search at a premises in the Ypsonas area of Limassol, during which they located a total of 2,736 pieces of goods such as bags, wallets, clothing, etc., which violated the intellectual property rights of various well-known brands. The owner of the premises admitted the offences and abandoned the goods for destruction, while his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted.
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A father in Larnaca reported to the Police the abuse of his infant in a private nursery, which, as it was found in the process, was operating illegally and instructions were given by the Social Welfare Services to close it. During a visit to the site, after the father's complaint, the officials of the PSOs found that a childminder had illegally arranged two rooms of her house, placed arbitrary beds, even hired staff and provided services to more than 10 children.
According to information from police sources, the complaint was made last Friday and was both for the alleged mistreatment of the 8-month-old girl, and for the operation of the nursery. As for the abuse, the father said that his child had abrasions on his face and a bite mark on his back. The case was brought to light by the municipal councillor of Larnaca and Secretary of the School Board, Andreas Kadis, who through a letter to the PSOs asked for information yesterday. In the letter, among other things, it states that "according to the complaint, the father transferred his infant to the station in question three times last week. On Friday, July 11, he picked up the child with obvious abrasions on his face, which he was given the explanation that they were caused by a Lego toy. After returning home, he noticed an additional bite on the infant's back. When he contacted the head of the station, she allegedly admitted that neither she nor her two assistants – who are illegally employed – had become aware of the incident. In addition, she told him that the bite may have been done by an older child. No justification was given for the presence of an older child in the same space as the infants, which raises serious questions about the conditions of custody and the observance of safety rules."
Filenews contacted the director of the PSOs, Maria Kyratzi, who confirmed the complaint about the operation of the nursery. The operation of the nursery, as she said, was not known to the PSOs and became known last Friday after the father's complaint. "She arbitrarily created some childcare facilities without securing the required permits. We immediately rushed and filed a complaint with the Police, as well as recommendations to the Police for the immediate termination of the operation. At the same time, those parents who need to network with other care programs are invited to contact us in order to guide them accordingly. The programs are also posted on our website, but we will be happy to offer guidance." Mrs. Kyratzi also called on parents to "turn to approved programs and if they need guidance, to turn to our services."
