Pafos Live 9 July 2025
The Police arrested a sixth person, aged 18, today, to facilitate the investigations regarding a robbery case, committed in Paphos, in the early hours of June 29, 2025.
For the same case, five other persons, aged 21, 17, 15, 14 and 19, were arrested in the previous days. A criminal case was registered against them yesterday, at the Paphos District Court.
The robbery with two tourists as victims was committed in the early hours of June 29, 2025, on a street in Paphos. According to the complainants, while they were walking on a city street, they were approached by about ten people, who attacked them and stole their personal belongings, a small amount of money and a mobile phone.
The complainants visited the Paphos General Hospital, where they were found to have abrasions and bruises. After receiving first aid, they were discharged.
The Paphos TAE continues the exams.
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It is almost a common secret for the residents of the eastern mountainous area of Paphos who are behind the malicious fires in the area lately, as well as the catastrophic fire the day before yesterday that burned an area of 1.6 square kilometers.
Similar information is also possessed by the authorities who are trying to identify additional evidence and testimony in order to bring those responsible to justice.
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A brutal murder took place at dawn. According to the first information, it was around 04:25 today when a 48-year-old man called the Limassol TAE and reported that he fatally stabbed his 81-year-old father in their home.
The 48-year-old, who allegedly faces psychological problems, was transferred for questioning to the Limassol TAE. The scene was cordoned off for examinations while the Police are investigating a premeditated murder.
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Filenews
In the context of an investigation into a case of trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation, members of the Police proceeded yesterday, on the basis of a court warrant, to the arrest of a third person.
He is a 35-year-old man, who appeared yesterday before the Nicosia District Court.
The Court issued a detention order for him for a period of three days, in order to facilitate the investigations.
It is recalled that two more persons are already in custody for the same case.
The examinations are being carried out by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Office.
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A case of fraud, with loot of €14,500, is being investigated by the Police, in Nicosia, following a relevant complaint by a 57-year-old businessman.
According to the complainant, yesterday afternoon he received a phone call from an unknown person, who submitted an order for him to purchase products from his company. In order to make a payment for the order, the unknown man asked the 57-year-old for his corporate bank account details.
As soon as the complainant gave the necessary information to the alleged customer, he received a second call from another unknown person, who introduced him as an officer of the Fraud Department, the bank with which he cooperates. The alleged "official" informed the 57-year-old that he was a victim of fraud. Under the pretext of helping him recover the amount stolen from his account, the "officer" managed to extract his account details, resulting in the 57-year-old losing a sum of €14,500.
On the occasion of this case, the Police call on the public to always be careful in their transactions, never to disclose their bank account details to anyone and to always confirm and verify the instructions for money transfers.
The Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Nicosia TAE is investigating the case.
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An online fraud case is being investigated by the Nicosia Crime Detection Department, following a relevant complaint filed by a 60-year-old woman.
According to the data under review, in March 2025, the complainant received messages, through a messaging application, from two unknown persons.
These persons presented themselves as lawyers and convinced her to invest in cryptocurrencies, with the promise that she would make significant profits.
After being convinced by what she was told, the 60-year-old proceeded to payments through bank transfers to various bank accounts, resulting in a total of €39,000.
The Nicosia TAE continues the examinations to clarify the case.
Useful tips for the public:
- Don't trust strangers who communicate online and suggest investments or financial transactions.
- Don't send money or personal information to people or accounts you can't verify.
- Seek expert advice before investing in cryptocurrencies or other investments.
- Avoid giving access to bank accounts or sensitive information through messaging apps.
- Contact the relevant authorities or your bank if in doubt.
- Be wary of offers that promise fast and big profits.
The messages on her mobile phone led to the arrest of the 26-year-old prison guard, who since yesterday has been under three-day detention as a suspect in the case of an illegal circuit allegedly directed by the barrister Giorgos Christodoulou-Zavratonas.
These messages were sent by the 26-year-old to the 37-year-old from Nicosia and owner of a beauty salon, who allegedly maintains a relationship with 48-year-old Zavrantonas. They were disclosed by the Police on the basis of a court order for access to recorded content of private communication.
The 26-year-old, according to what was presented yesterday before the District Judge, Malvina Nathanael by the investigator of the TAE Headquarters Makis Nikolaou, was sending messages to the 37-year-old expressing a desire to help her boyfriend. At the same time, the 26-year-old shows a message warning the 37-year-old that the Central Prison management is preparing something, adding "tell him to be careful".
These messages, as reported by the investigator of the case, led the Police to the arrest of the 26-year-old, who is believed to be friends with the 37-year-old, who is also in custody.
According to the positions of the Police, a source said that the young employee of the penitentiary maintains communication with the girlfriend of the convict when they are going to carry out searches in the wings of the Central Prison. In turn, the 37-year-old, as the investigator of the case said, "informs the convict in order to hide the illegal substances or objects in his possession", such as drugs and mobile phones.
Here are the messages obtained by the Police on the basis of a decree dated July 2, 2025:
>> A text message was found on the mobile phone of the 37-year-old girlfriend of the barrister sent by the 26-year-old on 22/22025. "Oh, I know that she works beautifully, I don't care. I will never stop helping George and ... God come down. Especially as soon as the first evaluations are gone. Beautiful, thank you again for the honours you give me, I really see a lot of difference in me".
>> On 10/3/25 the 26-year-old correctional officer allegedly sent the 37-year-old the following audio message: "I only race for Giorgos and ... I put it down. Nine like you, our brotherly love, family. And I have my race only for Zavranton and ... I'm putting it down."
>> On 11/3/25 again the 26-year-old sends the following message to the 37-year-old: "Love, what are you doing? Tell him to be concerned tonight, I don't know where or what. 99% of them do something, and I'm not the only one who speaks it, tell him to be careful tonight. Too many suspects. From the morning we got to work at 06:30. The address was all inside. They're doing something tonight, they're doing something, tell him to be careful, I'm not the only one who speaks it, they're doing something."
Yesterday's procedure for examining the request for three-day detention of the 26-year-old did not last long, while it was approved by the Judge. It is indicative that the lawyer of the young Andreas Tsentidis did not object to the request of the Police and therefore did not submit questions to the investigator of the case.
Next Friday, when the detention orders of the remaining six persons detained for the case expire, it is expected that a case will be registered. Suspects in addition to the 26-year-old are 48-year-old Zavrantonas, the 37-year-old with whom he is allegedly in a relationship, the latter's parents and brother, as well as a 40-year-old man. They are alleged to be participating in a drug trafficking ring with Zavradonas as the mastermind.
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The serious incident between a driver and a minor at a bus stop, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon (6/7) in Limassol, is under investigation since yesterday. The video that records a bus driver spraying an underage student with pepper spray has caused a stir. Filenews reveals what preceded the incident and why EMEL received a threatening email a few hours after the incident.
The issue has taken on great dimensions, as – as it emerges from a relevant email revealed by our website – unknown people sent a threatening message to EMEL, asking for the driver's dismissal, otherwise "there will be incalculable consequences".
The incident, as Filenews is informed, took place around 18:15 on Sunday afternoon. Specifically, five to six minors of Russian origin – known to EMEL drivers for frequently causing problems – boarded a bus after the end of a big party in the coastal area.
According to the company's allegations, the minors caused damage inside the bus, made a noise and disturbed the passengers. The driver disembarked them at a bus stop on the coastal road. However, the minors boarded the next bus and continued to cause a disturbance.
In an observation made by the driver, they attacked him verbally and not only, resulting in the vehicle stopping and trying to disembark them. Although the minors initially reacted, they eventually got off, but they continued to provoke and try to get back on the bus. The driver did not allow them to enter and then allegedly received threats and attack. After insults to his face, the driver reacted by using pepper spray in his possession, spraying one of the minors, as recorded in the relevant video.
After the incident, the Germasogeia Police Station was informed, as well as members of the Limassol OPE, since – as we were told – it is a group of young people who are under surveillance due to frequent phenomena of delinquency and causing incidents. The driver was called and gave testimony to the Police.
As Filenews is informed, the driver apologized for the use of the spray and admitted that he exceeded the limits due to the intensity of the situation. On the other hand, the minor's mother also went to the Police Station, where she filed an official complaint and requested the driver's dismissal from EMEL, submitting specific conditions.
In the meantime, shortly after the incident, a threatening text message was sent to the management of EMEL, which stated:
"We ask that the driver be dismissed without the possibility of returning to work. Failure to comply with this condition will lead to massive actions against you by the people affected, with incalculable consequences that you cannot comprehend. If you don't do it right away, we'll send you a list of the consequences you'll expect."
For the whole incident, Filenews contacted EMEL, which confirmed the facts. From the point of view of the management, the necessary actions are underway. The incident, as we have been told, is considered unjustified, however, it has been stressed that it must also be examined in the context of the repeated behaviour of certain groups of young people, who – often under the influence of alcohol or other substances – endanger the safety of drivers and passengers. A typical example is previous incidents of throwing firecrackers at a bus of the same route.
It should be noted that EMEL will proceed with an official complaint to the Police for the threatening email it received.
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The Police arrested one of its members, for stalking, threats and violence against a woman.
As announced by the Police, the Nicosia TAE is investigating a case against a member of the Police that concerns the following offences:
- Menace
- Intervention in judicial proceedings
- Joint attack
- Assault causing actual bodily harm
- Harassment Tracking
- Disobedience to lawful orders.
According to information, the policeman was reported by his ex-partner. According to the complaint, he had been monitoring and threatening her for months.
The member of the Police was arrested yesterday with a court arrest warrant and has been suspended today following instructions from Mr. Themistos Arnaoutis, Chief of Police.
It is worth noting that this police officer has been reported in the past for crimes of a similar nature.
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The Permanent Assize Court of Larnaca sentenced today (9/7) to 4 years imprisonment a Greek Cypriot couple from Larnaca, 67 and 66 years old, who pretended to be doctors and managed to deceive three elderly women by extorting money.
The defendants were found guilty of charges of extortion of money and goods through false representations and money laundering.
The pair of pseudo-doctors committed the fraud between May and June 2023 in Larnaca, managing to extract more than €100,000 in cash and other valuables. The defendants called their victims saying that a relative of theirs needed surgery and urgently needed money. Subsequently, one of them went to the elderly woman's house and received the money.
In the first case, the defendants extracted €9,000 in cash, as well as jewellery with a total value of about €9,000. From the second complainant they grabbed €7,000 in cash, while from the third they grabbed an amount of €70,000, as well as valuables of great value.
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The Limassol Permanent Assize Court today imposed an immediate sentence of 5.5 years in prison on the accused and former director of the Pattihio Municipal Theater, Vasos Argyridis. On 18 June, the Court found him guilty, after a months-long hearing. After the conviction, the accused was taken to the Central Prison.
The case concerns the misuse of public money and specifically the theft of an amount of €234,550 from an employee, as well as money laundering.
Argyridis was found guilty on charges of theft from an employee, money laundering and securing goods under false representations.
During the hearing, 20 prosecution witnesses and 4 defense witnesses testified, while the defendant himself gave sworn testimony. According to the decision of the Court of Assizes, his testimony was not convincing, as – as noted – it was not aimed at highlighting the truth. His testimony was judged pretentious and rejected.
His lawyer, Rikkos Erotokritou, in his speech on the mitigation of the sentence, mentioned that his client has a clean criminal record, is in a difficult financial situation and faces personal problems. He also stressed that the defendant was being monitored by a psychologist due to gambling addiction – something that, however, he had not disclosed to his therapist. He asked the Court to take into account the delay in the trial of the case, which, as he argued, was not due to him.
Instead of honoring his position, the defendant abused the trust shown to him by his employer from the very first moment. From 2017 and for three consecutive years, he embezzled money from the theater's receipts and entertainment tax.
In the decision, his clean criminal record, his financial, family and personal circumstances were taken into account as mitigating factors.
It is recalled that, following an audit carried out by an audit firm on the books of the Pattihio Municipal Theatre, a cash deficit of €234,550 was found for the years 2017 to 2020, which is related to collections and deductions from the entertainment tax.
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The appointment of a death investigator to investigate the circumstances under which a person with a disability who was housed in a state structure drowned with his food and died, is requested by MPs of the parliamentary Labour Committee, following what was denounced during yesterday's meeting of the Committee by the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled Organizations.
The incident took place last May with the MPs and the KYSOA raising questions about how this person lost his life since, as they claim, it has not been clarified whether there was a person among the caregivers who knew how to provide First Aid or not.
The president of KYSOA reiterated her complaints a short time ago, from the show "morning route" of the third program of CyBC, while relevant statements were made by members of the competent Parliamentary Committee.
As the president of KYSOA said, "the house in which the incident took place operates under the PSOs. However, such houses are also operated by the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities in a different way, but in a different way that actually ensures the dignified living of its residents".
A representative of the competent state services also gave answers, while the issue is expected to return to the discussion in September with the reopening of the Parliament after the summer holidays.
According to the spokeswoman of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, immediately after drowning during the meal, first aid was provided by the staff and an ambulance was called and transported to the hospital.
"This person unfortunately ended up the next day while he was hospitalized," said the representative of the competent Deputy Ministry, claiming that "all the appropriate procedures were then followed in cooperation with the competent authorities".
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In a nationwide inspection operation carried out on July 8, 2025, officials of the Customs Department located 1,325 pieces of toys, keychains and other accessories, which violated the patented intellectual property rights of the "Labubu" brand. The operation targeted eight stores owned by two different companies.
On the occasion of this operation, the Customs Department calls on the consumer public to exercise special caution when purchasing products that may be counterfeits. As he points out, the quality of these products does not correspond to the price paid by consumers, while in cases of children's toys there are serious risks to the safety and health of children.
The Department reaffirms its commitment to combating the circulation of counterfeit products in the Cypriot market, through systematic controls on importation, but also through targeted market operations and unannounced checks on commercial premises that have such items for sale.
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Intubated in critical condition, a foreigner of African origin is hospitalized at the Nicosia General Hospital, who was found bloodied in Ayia Napa in the early hours of Tuesday. The foreigner's details were verified by the Police, who found that he was a man from Cameroon, a political asylum seeker.
However, it remains unknown how the foreigner was injured and closed circuits are being sought from Katalimon Street, where he was located, in order to clarify the mysterious case. There are three scenarios for his injury: either it was caused by a beating, a fall from a height, or a car accident, according to information from philenews from police sources.
The Famagusta TAE was informed yesterday morning about the injury of the foreigner by the Famagusta General Hospital. Specifically, as reported around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, an injured person was transported, who was found in an outdoor area of a premises in Ayia Napa.
The foreigner has a fractured skull and a hematoma in the brain. Due to the seriousness of his condition, he was transferred yesterday to the Nicosia General Hospital, where he underwent surgery. His health condition is judged to be critical, but stable.
