Pafos Live 21 August 2025
An appeal against his detention, until the start of his trial, was filed by the 55-year-old man accused of shooting and wounding a 41-year-old fellow villager in the village of Amargeti on July 5. Through his appeal, the suspect asked for his immediate release, citing, among other things, health reasons.
As mentioned before the Supreme Court, the 55-year-old is a cancer patient at a very advanced stage. It is recalled that the 55-year-old has been referred to a direct trial at the Assize Court, which will meet in Paphos on 24.09.2025. He faces seven charges, which relate to the offence of attempted murder, transport and use of a firearm, transport, possession and use of explosives and possession of a controlled drug class A. Apart from the medical reasons, his lawyers argued that there is no reason to continue the detention, as the 55-year-old has a permanent residence, stable ties with the community and there is no risk of escape or obstruction of the investigative work.
The Supreme Court ruled that detention remains absolutely necessary. As underlined in the decision, the seriousness of the case, the stage of the investigations and the possible risk of influencing witnesses or obstructing the investigation, prevail over the personal circumstances of the suspect.
In the decision of the Supreme Court it is noted that his state of health is not of such a peculiar form and seriousness that the detention order will cause suffering of an unusual degree or worsen his state of health, given the case law of the ECtHR that states are expected to ensure that detainees are respected for their human dignity. including their transfer either to a hospital or a private clinic, if circumstances so require.
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Four persons, aged 33, 22, 21 and 20, were arrested by the Police as part of an investigation into a case involving kidnapping, assault causing actual bodily harm, threat and extortion, offences committed on August 13 in the Famagusta area.
In an announcement by the Police Communication Branch, it is stated that "on August 19, an 18-year-old young man reported to the Police that, on August 13, four persons had locked him in an apartment room, while according to him, they allegedly beat him in various parts of his body."
During the investigation of the case, testimony emerged against four persons, who were located in the apartment where they live in the Famagusta district and were arrested on the basis of court warrants pending against them.
Inside the apartment, "two 19-year-olds and a 23-year-old were also identified, who, as it became apparent from the examinations, were illegally residing on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus".
According to the announcement, "during the investigations, a quantity of dry cannabis plant material and a container made for the use of a controlled drug were also found, which the 33-year-old arrested, allegedly admitted to be his".
All those arrested were detained while the Famagusta Police Department, in cooperation with the Anti-Narcotics Service and the Aliens and Immigration Service, continue the examinations.
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Filenews
The sequel to the police-political thriller with the 36-year-old wanted by the Israeli authorities, revealed by "F" on August 11, will take place at the end of this month.
The reason for the case of the Israeli suspect for a death ambush in the city of Ashdod, Daniel Yehonatan Zarug. The latter has been handed over to the authorities of the Republic on August 13 and the process of his extradition to his home country has already been launched.
After his surrender through a barricade, he was taken to the Nicosia District Court, which scheduled the next trial for August 29. This is in order to give the Israeli authorities the time provided by the law to send the official documents of the application for its issuance along with the necessary accompanying certificates.
The procedure for extradition of wanted persons is carried out through the Ministry of Justice. In this case, Minister Marios Hartsiotis should subscribe to the request of the Israeli authorities. This issue, of course, is considered to be of a formal nature.
Interim Warrant
Here we should recall that the 36-year-old was arrested by the pseudo-authorities in Kyrenia on July 30 and then handed over to the Republic of Cyprus through UNFICYP. Zarug is currently being held on a provisional arrest warrant and on the basis of a red notice by the Israeli authorities.
The provisional arrest warrant is issued in cases of persons who are pending extradition proceedings in another country. It is characterized as an emergency procedure that is used de facto and specifically to deal with the risk of the person's escape.
Cypriot lawyers
The 36-year-old, who used a fake passport under the name Andros Garcia in the occupied territories, is willing to use legal means to prevent his extradition to Israel. His defense has already been undertaken by lawyers Andreas Andreou and Dimitris Tsolakidis, who are also known for handling a number of criminal law cases. Consequently, a legal battle is expected to be fought on their part.
And political connotations
The case is interesting for two reasons. The first relates to the crime committed in Israel in the spring of 2024, which resulted in the death of a woman, as well as the injury of two other people.
The other reason is that the case also concerned the services of foreign countries. When "F" had revealed the intentions of the pseudo-state to hand over the wanted man to the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, we had referred to the political aspect of the case.
Turkey and the USA
First of all, we recorded cross-checked information from "F", which stated that contacts were made through a bi-communal group for the surrender of the 36-year-old to the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and then the extradition of the wanted man to Israel. We cited our competent source who told us that the scenario suited Ankara's policy.
Turkey, as we noted, criticizes Israel for what is being assumed in the Middle East, but at the same time it wants to keep a balance. As we were told in the report, "internally, Turkey wants to show that it criticizes Israel, but it will not take it to extremes." In this context, therefore, the initiative by the pseudo-state to hand over the 36-year-old to the Republic is also included.
Moreover, a report by a well-known journalist in Israel reported that U.S. agencies were involved in the case and played a catalytic role in the arrest of Zarug in the occupied territories. Shimon Ifergan wrote in an article on the Mako website and citing a source that "the U.S. law enforcement authorities also stepped in and put pressure on the occupied territories to arrest the perpetrator." He noted that his source told him that "an entire unit was monitoring him 24 hours a day," recording the position that the Israel Police had been well informed about Zarug's movements for some time.
Via Tehran
In the occupied areas, an attempt was made to promote the position that 36-year-old Daniel Yehonatan Zarug arrived in the Republic with his fake passport and then went to the occupied areas. On a Turkish Cypriot website, the "information" of the pseudo-police was broadcast that they went to the occupied areas through a barricade. However, an Israeli journalist citing the Israel Police wrote that the fugitive first went to Tehran and then ended up on a flight to the occupied territories.
"Refuge for fugitives"
The whole issue brought another issue back to the fore. It has to do with the fact that people with a criminal past find asylum in the occupied areas. Shimon Ifergan wrote in his analysis of the phenomenon that "in recent weeks, five more criminals have fled there, some with fake passports, while joining a thriving Israeli community that organizes profitable gambling groups and provides shelter to fugitive criminals." In another report, he pointed out that the 36-year-old lived "like a king in the occupied territories".
The crime on 24/3/2024
Zarug is suspected of murdering a woman and injuring two other people. The perpetrator of the crime set up a death cart for Shaul Peretz on 24/3/2024 in Ashdod, who was going with his family to a court hearing. He fired nine times, killing, however, Shaul's wife, Almog Peretz. The assailant injured Shaul and another woman. Zarug reportedly left Israel in March 2024, shortly after the aforementioned crime.
The chronicle of the arrest of 36-year-old Daniel Zarug
Daniel Zarug, 36, reportedly left Israel in the spring of 2024 and then moved to Kyrenia, where he lived until his recent arrest at the end of July.
- The wanted man by the Israeli authorities was arrested by the fake police in Kyrenia on Wednesday, July 30, in possession of a fake Spanish passport named Andros Garcia.
- As it became known, it was the wanted Daniel Yehonatan Zarug.
- The Israeli authorities had issued a "red notice" through Interpol since March 2024.
- He was detained after a decision of a "court" of Kyrenia.
- As we revealed, on August 11, contacts were made on the initiative of the occupied territories in order to hand over the suspect to the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Finally, on August 13, it was handed over to the Authorities of the Republic by UNFICYP through a barricade.
- He is detained on a provisional arrest warrant and on August 29 the next proceedings before the Nicosia District Court were scheduled.
A 32-year-old Greek Cypriot is alleged, according to what he reported to the Police of the British Bases of Dhekelia, that he accidentally entered the occupied areas with his vehicle and fled on foot from an area in Vrysoules.
According to information from the British Bases Police, the incident took place at 4 a.m. on the road leading to Strovilia. The young man from the Nicosia district was heading in the opposite direction when at some point he entered a dirt road, according to what he said, to answer a call of nature.
Obviously ignorant of the area, he entered the occupied areas. At some point, according to his testimony, he saw traffic lights turning towards him and realized that it was the outpost of the occupation authorities.
Then, as he said, he started running and managed to cross again in the free areas, leaving his vehicle behind. The case is being investigated by the BB, while the Authorities of the Republic were also informed in order to take action to return the vehicle to its 32-year-old owner.
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A 43-year-old suspect was detained for a period of seven days for the arson of a factory in Ypsonas, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
The offences of arson and malicious damage are being investigated against him.
According to the testimony presented by the investigators of the Limassol TAE before the District Court, the complainant testified that the suspect had been working for about a year in his handicrafts/warehouse as a distributor. In June 2025, the suspect resigned without giving an explanation. A few days later he returned and asked to be rehired, which was not accepted, as a replacement had already been found. The suspect left irritated.
Incident in a café
Two weeks later, while the suspect was in a café in Ypsonas, he shouted in an out-of-control state addressing the complainant, who at that time was sitting at a table below, where other friends of his were located: "I'm going to knock you alive."
He then grabbed a bottle of beer and threw it towards him, but did not injure him, since bystanders intervened and restrained him.
The complainant filed a complaint with the Polemidia Police Station, while the suspect was given recommendations.
Previous malicious damage incident
About a month ago, the complainant found that the oil cap on the engine of his car, which was parked opposite his craft in an open field, had been removed in order to cause damage.
From a check on the closed circuit surveillance that he maintains at the premises, he saw the suspect approaching the car the day before, after having previously taken something from his own vehicle. The complainant suspects the suspect as the person who attempted to cause malicious damage to his car, but without reporting the incident to the Police. In communication he had with the suspect, he gave him an unsubstantiated excuse.
Following the above, the suspect was identified by members of the Limassol OPE and was taken to the offices of the Limassol TAE for interrogation. It should be noted that a search was carried out at the suspect's house and vehicle without detecting anything reprehensible.
Under written interrogation, the suspect stated that he had been working for the complainant's company for about a year and, because he found another job with a better salary, he resigned. After two days, because he didn't like the new job, he asked his former employer in the afternoon to rehire him, to no avail.
He also referred to the incident at the café of Ypsonas 20 days ago, saying that he started shouting at the complainant because he had to give him additional money for work he offered to his company. He attributed his act to the fact that he had consumed alcohol.
According to the suspect, in the following days, the 75-year-old complainant, through another person, gave him the amount of 300 euros for the work he offered.
He also mentioned that his car was parked in the 75-year-old's area, which he was using because he was annoying. He added that, after his resignation from the complainant's company, he often went to the place and started a vehicle to drain the battery. He denied, however, that he caused any damage to the complainant's car.
The Night of the Fire
The suspect referred to his movements for 19–20/08/25 and claimed that on 20/08/25, around 00:30–01:00, he left the place where he was and went to his house. As he said, he woke up later from the explosions and the noise of the fire brigade.
He also mentioned that he went out to the terrace of his house and saw the fire in the complainant's factory from the window.
On the same day, and after his written consent, his house and vehicle were searched by members of the Limassol TAE. Various documents were received, which are expected to be sent for scientific examinations.
Testimonies that refute him
In the context of the investigation of the case, written testimony was obtained which refutes the suspect's claim about the time he left the place where he was, in order to go to his home on 20/08/25.
Specifically, the suspect left the place at about 01:45, while at 02:00 the fire broke out at the complainant's premises. It should be noted that the 75-year-old's premises were located at a very close distance from both the suspect's house and the place where the latter was.
Damages and next actions
The fire caused damage to four neighbouring residences/premises, the height of which has not yet been calculated.
So far, six testimonies have been received and two investigations have been conducted. Based on what has emerged so far, 91 deposits are expected to be received. Among them, testimonies will be taken from the suspect's family, friends and professional environment, as well as from other persons who may have a direct or indirect connection to the case.
Furthermore, it is expected that the suspect will be re-examined, his allegations will be investigated, the scenes will be examined and any other evidence from the fire will be received.
In addition, it is expected to receive material from CCTV recorders that exist in the area. It is noted that the KKBP recorder has already been received from the premises of the 75-year-old.
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Two people were arrested by the Police for burglaries and thefts that took place in Nicosia and Larnaca.
According to the Police, in the context of an investigation into a case of theft from a premises in Larnaca, an offense committed between the dates of August 14-16, 2025, a 31-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon to facilitate the investigations.
Specifically, in the context of the investigation of the complaint and on the basis of data collection and evaluation, a testimony emerged against the 31-year-old, who was arrested on the basis of a court warrant and was detained while the Larnaca TAE continues the examinations.
Moreover, a 43-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon on the basis of a court warrant and detained for facilitating the investigations regarding an investigated case of burglary of a building and theft in Nicosia.
Specifically, it was reported to the Police yesterday morning by a store owner in Nicosia that, between the dates of August 12-20, 2025, unknown persons broke into his store and stole various electrical components as well as other machinery from the warehouse.
For the case, a testimony emerged against the 43-year-old, who was arrested, while in a search conducted at his home, part of the stolen property was found.
The Nicosia TAE continues the exams.
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Fraud with an elderly woman as a victim was committed yesterday in the Larnaca district, where strangers stole money and jewellery from her.
According to the woman's complaint to the Police, around 12:30 yesterday noon she received a phone call from an unknown woman who told her that the government will provide free domestic helpers for the elderly and asked her for various information to fill out an application.
Subsequently, the unknown woman connected her with a man who told her that he was from the Electricity Authority (EAC) and that her house had a leak and was in danger of catching fire.
The person in question allegedly urged her to take her money and jewellery out of the house. The woman, continuing to talk to him on the phone, placed her money and jewellery in a basket and left them on her terrace, while immediately after, he urged her to go back into the house and turn off the central switch. The woman entered the house and when she returned to her terrace, she found that the basket with her jewellery and money had been stolen.
According to testimonies obtained during the investigation, an unknown man allegedly left the place on foot in an unknown direction.
The Regional Police Station of Kofinou continues the examinations.
The Police again calls on citizens to be particularly careful and suspicious as the cunning constantly invent various ways of deception with the main purpose of theft.
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Cy Mail
All five Greek Cypriots who were arrested in the north last month now face charges of privacy violations, trespassing and breaching the peace, after appearing at the Trikomo district court on Thursday morning.
Those charges had initially only been levelled at two of the five Greek Cypriots, but on Thursday morning, all five were brought before the court in Trikomo.
According to newspaper Ozgur Gazete’s editor-in-chief Pinar Barut, who was present in court on Thursday, the court was informed that the case against all five is now ready and a trial can begin.
Defence lawyer Ugur Culhaoglu represented all five defendants and said that none of the five accepted the charges. He added that all five wish to be tried to prove their innocence, and that the defence is “ready” for a trial to begin.
The prosecution said that cases against all five defendants regarding the charges of trespassing and breaching the peace were “ready”, but that the north’s chief public prosecutor’s office has not yet received a case file from the police regarding the charges of privacy violations.
This charge, they said, is “the most serious” of the three.
They then added that when the final file is submitted, all three charges can be combined into once case and a trial can begin.
Culhaoglu said it would be the defence’s preference for all the charges to be combined, and with both sides in agreement on this matter, judge Cigdem Guzeler adjourned the case until August 28.
Barut said the police are expected to submit the case file related to the charges of privacy violations before the next hearing, and the trial will be able to begin on that day.
Later on Thursday, the five Greek Cypriots are expected to reappear at the military court in northern Nicosia, where they face charges related to the allegation that one of the five entered the north illegally and the other four aided and abetted that alleged illegal entry.
With none of the five having admitted to the charges they face in that court, it is expected that a trial based on those charges will begin on Thursday afternoon.
In addition, the three Greek Cypriots – who were not until Thursday morning charged with privacy violations, trespassing, and breaching the peace – will be referred to the military court for a potential extension of their remand, given that they were not subject to the three-month remand handed down in Trikomo last month.
Their most recent remand is set to expire on Thursday, with the five having most recently appeared in military court on August 14.
