Pafos Live 5 November 2025
Private criminal charges have been filed with the Limassol District Court, against five people, in the case of the death of the national guard, Thanasis Nikolaou.
According to information from KYPE, the indictment includes the medical examiner, Panikos Stavrianos, as well as four former members of the Police, who are related to the investigation of the circumstances of the death of the unfortunate national guardsman, on September 29, 2005.
The indictment concerns a total of 38 charges, such as conspiracy to prevent the course of justice, neglect of official duty, issuance of a false certificate by a public official, perjury, provision of false information, destruction of evidence and interference in a judicial process.
The family of Thanasis Nikolaou has instructed its legal advisors to proceed with private criminal prosecutions against former members of the National Guard.
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Filenews
The Police arrested a 62-year-old man, after a vehicle was stopped for a check on the Larnaca - Dhekelia road.
According to the Police, members of YKAN in the context of actions taken in order to identify and arrest persons involved in the trafficking and trafficking of narcotic substances, after evaluating information, stopped today for a check on the Larnaca - Dhekelia road, a car driven by a 62-year-old man.
As soon as the 62-year-old realized the presence of the Police, he tried to escape control, as a result of which his vehicle collided with an official vehicle and was immobilized.
In a search of the car driven by the 62-year-old, a nylon package containing cocaine with a gross weight of 55 grams, as well as a wooden bat, was located and confiscated. Also, the 62-year-old underwent a drug test with a positive indication.
The 62-year-old was arrested and taken into custody to facilitate investigations.
The examinations continue by YKAN and the Oroklini Police Station.
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Important evidence, such as material from closed surveillance circuits, genetic material, as well as telecommunications data, have led the investigations into the murder of Stavros Demosthenous to a critical juncture. The investigators of the TAE Limassol now have in their hands evidence and testimonies that shed light on the case, while the two Georgian suspects arrested in Thessaloniki are considered "keys" to its investigation.
His investigators proceeded to re-arrest the 31-year-old Georgian suspect, who had been arrested as an accomplice after committing the crime, as he allegedly smuggled his 28-year-old compatriot (A.Z.). Yesterday's arrest concerns the investigated offenses of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, etc. Information from Filenews states that the involvement of the 31-year-old seems to be even greater, as there are testimonies linking him to a specific stolen vehicle. Following the latest developments, the suspect will be brought before the Limassol District Court for the issuance of a detention order.
The process will take place together with that of the two suspects aged 59 and 30, who allegedly participated in the purchase of the vehicle, as the second eight-day period of their pre-trial detention ends today and the investigators will request a renewal. At 10:30 today, the Court's decision is also expected on whether the 44-year-old former footballer and the 51-year-old of Greek origin, who is linked to the stolen Mitsubishi Colt, in which jerry cans of flammable matter and his DNA were found, will remain in custody.
Objections to the detention of the suspects
During yesterday's proceedings, defense attorneys Alexandros Alexandrou and Nikos Koromias expressed serious objections to the further detention of their clients, talking about their non-involvement, but also about the punitive nature of the prolonged detention. Especially for the 44-year-old, his lawyer claimed that he has been fully cooperating with the authorities from the first moment.
The examiner of the case, Lieutenant Elias Kreouzos, stated that some of the 51-year-old's allegations are refuted by the data of the investigation. Specifically, while the suspect claimed that he visited his doctor daily in Limassol, this was not confirmed. In addition, his claims about his movements before and on the day of the murder are not consistent with the findings. He stressed that the Mitsubishi Colt, which was allegedly used by the perpetrators, is linked to the same persons who were found driving the executors' van.
Handcuffed in the courtroom due to a possible escape - New testimonies
Before the start of the proceedings, the representative of the Prosecution Authority, Panikos Avraamidis, requested that the 44-year-old remain in handcuffs, citing information that he expressed an intention to escape. The Court accepted the request, with his lawyer rejecting the claim, stating that his client has been held for 16 days in a "one-on-one" cell without contact with other detainees.
So far, 124 testimonies have been received and dozens of items have been received, which are being examined in state laboratories. Investigators are evaluating a large amount of material from security cameras, while 69 more testimonies are expected from people close to the suspects and the victim. At the same time, 22 searches have been carried out in homes and other places, while two more targeted investigations have been planned to locate critical evidence.
Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of the suspects' telecommunications data and private communications. Information from "F" states that the first analyses seem to show important evidence of contacts that some of them had before and after the crime.
Administrative search for a mobile phone in a suspect's cell
At the same time, an administrative investigation is underway by a senior Police officer regarding the location of a mobile phone in the possession of a suspect detained for the murder of Stavros Demosthenous in the detention center of the Limassol Police Department.
The authorities located the mobile phone after relevant information. The suspect claimed that the phone was given to him by another inmate who was going to be transferred to the Central Prison. The mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination, in order to determine if calls were made, to which persons and if it contains information related to the case.
Update - A decisive role in the murder of Stavros Demosthenous is said to have been played by the 31-year-old Georgian suspect, who seems to have actively participated in both the organization of the execution and the "death rehearsal", in which the perpetrators participated by having in possession of the stolen van and the Mitsubishi Colt that had been stolen by a priest.
Two suspects, aged 59 and 30, who are allegedly involved in the purchase of the vehicle, were brought before the Limassol District Court for the renewal of their detention. Today marks the end of the second eight-day period of their pre-trial detention and the investigators are requesting a new renewal, as well as for the 31-year-old Georgian, who was re-arrested yesterday for the offenses of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit a felony, etc. The investigators of the TAE Limassol are also requesting that the 31-year-old be detained for a period of eight days.
It is noted that the Court, in a different composition, released two other detainees. The 44-year-old former football player and a 51-year-old of Greek origin.
As Lieutenant Elias Kreouzos stated in Court, in the context of the examinations for the fake license plates that were placed on the stolen Mitsubishi Colt - a vehicle connected to the stolen van used by the perpetrators in the murder - it emerged that the fake license plates were made in a specific store in Limassol, which is adjacent to the house of the 31-year-old suspect.
According to written testimony, on September 26, the 31-year-old went to the store in question and asked the owner to make him two signs with a specific registration number. The 31-year-old suspect did not have the registration certificate with him, but he assured her that he would present it the next day. The owner, trusting him, made the two signs, which the suspect received the next day.
The specific license plates were identified as the same ones found on the stolen Mitsubishi Colt, which seems to be directly linked to the van used in the murder of Stavros Demosthenous.
In addition to the above, as the examiner of the case said, testimony was obtained that a person from Nicosia is involved in the murder of Demosthenes and in fact that he is the executor and the driver of the motorcycle as well as that he is the driver of the van.
After his re-arrest, the 31-year-old Georgian, interrogated in writing, replied that he will say whatever he has to say in Court.
The process is ongoing with the two lawyers objecting. This is the lawyer of the 30-year-old and the 59-year-old.
The 44-year-old footballer and the 51-year-old are free
Meanwhile, the 44-year-old former football player and the 51-year-old of Greek origin, who is connected to the stolen Mitsubishi Colt, in which jerry cans of flammable matter and his DNA were found, were released by the Court.
The decision of Judge Chr. Mittelton, who lists 13 pages, points out, among other things, in relation to the 51-year-old of Greek origin, that the existence of genetic material in an object that existed before the crime and was not proven to have been used in it cannot create a subsequent reasonable suspicion rather than a theoretical connection.
The court's decision states that without ignoring the fact that the Police are investigating a complex crime, the existing testimony about the first and second suspects does not meet at this stage the required level of competence to justify the continuation of their detention for investigative purposes. The element of suspicion remains, but stagnant and theoretical.
It is also stated that the above findings do not imply that the Police should terminate the investigative work regarding the two suspects.
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The 70-year-old woman who was the victim of a robbery on Tuesday in Paphos was taken to Paphos General Hospital as she allegedly suffered a fracture during the incident.
According to the Police, around 10.45 in the morning, while a 70-year-old woman was next to her car which was parked in an open area in Paphos, a second vehicle parked next to it.
An unknown person got out of the second car, specifically from the driver's seat, who, after opening the passenger door of the 70-year-old's car, allegedly took her mobile phone and her bag containing the sum of €150, as well as various personal belongings.
Subsequently, the alleged perpetrator got into the car with the intention of leaving, while the 70-year-old tried to stop him, as a result of which he dragged her and threw her to the ground.
The 70-year-old was taken by ambulance to Paphos General Hospital, where she was found to have suffered a fractured right shoulder and abrasions on her right arm and knee.
The Paphos TAE continues the examinations.
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A Police Sergeant is facing charges for the unjust loss of 15-year-old Stylianos in Kotsiatis in 2019.
This is the second case registered for the suicide of the teenager that shook Cypriot society. The 58-year-old police officer who was serving at the Pera Chorio Police Station at the time in question is accused of neglecting official duty.
According to the details of the offense, as recorded in the indictment, despite the fact that at an earlier stage of the 15-year-old's suicide the 58-year-old became aware that Stylianos had attempted to take his own life, he nevertheless failed to investigate the case, giving wrong instructions to his subordinates.
The Police Sergeant has already declared non-admission to the charge he is facing, while yesterday the case was set for hearing. However, the proceedings did not proceed for reasons related to the other case registered for the suicide of Stylianos and for which 11 persons are accused - the parents of the unfortunate child and nine officials of the Social Welfare Services.
Both cases have successive registration numbers (1089/21 and 1090/21) have been brought before the District Judge of Nicosia, Pavlos Agapitos. In fact, the following peculiarity is presented: One of the defendants in one case is a prosecution witness in the other, that is, the one against the 58-year-old sergeant, he is accused.
These were exactly the axis of the positions expressed yesterday before the court by Stavros Demetriou, the police officer's defense attorney. On the basis of what he said, an issue arises from the fact that two cases for the unfortunate Stylianos are before the same Court, indicating possible complications of a legal nature. Indicative is the issue of a person who will be called before the same Judge to testify under oath in one case as a prosecution witness and in the other as a defendant.
The Court was asked to consider the matter. District Judge Pavlos Agapitos scheduled the case for 18/12 in order to hear the views of all parties involved and decide on it.
It is noted that on behalf of the Republic, Nafsika Grigoriou is handling the case with the 58-year-old sergeant as the accused.
The background
The office of the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights, Maria Stylianou Lottides, investigated the loss of Stylianos following a decision of the Council of Ministers dated September 11, 2019. The commissioner, according to the terms of reference, was called upon to identify responsibilities "against all those responsible in all the services involved". The conclusion of this investigation dated 14/11/2019 was made public and forwarded to the then Attorney General of the Republic, Costas Clerides. Subsequently, two independent criminal investigators were appointed, the lawyers Modestos Pogiatzis and Andreas E. Andreou, with an order to complete the criminal investigation assigned to them within two months. After the completion of the work of the criminal investigators, the two cases were registered in 2021.
The commissioner's conclusion, however, which was made public six years ago, included clear references to the Police. Among other things, it stated: "The relevant reports (of domestic violence) exceeded 20 and there was also a conviction of the father for violence against the minor Stylianos. They should have taken into account the existence of minor children and the possibility of psychological violence that both the Frontline Police Officers and the Police Violence Prevention Office failed to detect even though they had access to the electronic entries that with an identity search brought ALL the entries in total."
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The dimensions of the drug problem in Paphos are growing, especially among teenagers, mainly students of Gymnasiums, Lyceums and Technical Schools.
The trafficking of substances, mainly cannabis, is now a frequent phenomenon, as parents complain to us, especially at the time of the departure of students from secondary schools.
The latest incident revealed today by "F" concerns the arrest of two students, aged 16 and 17 who attend a school in the city of Paphos, at the time of their arrival at the school they attend.
The two had been monitored by the Police, as a result of which they were surprised when the men of the force approached them. These students were seen throwing a bag under the car in which they had gone to school, which was picked up by the Police and which was found to contain cannabis.
The two students were arrested early in the morning as they were about to enter the school, which leads the authorities to the conclusion that the found drugs found in their possession were to be distributed to other children attending the same school.
In addition to the drug case, the two are also being tested for driving without the required certificates.
These phenomena, according to parents who spoke to "F", expressing complaints or concerns, have become more frequent lately, while several teachers and Directorates of Secondary Schools, as they told us, already know and observe strange behaviours in the schools where they serve, but do not seem willing to inform the Police so that the children involved themselves can be helped and the rest are protected.
According to the same sources, there is a prejudice not to "mark" the school, but also the fear that the Ministry of Education will be informed, which, as is logical, in such a case will ask for explanations and demand efficiency on the part of the school managements.
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A 28-year-old foreigner was arrested by the Police in Paphos after a complaint by a 27-year-old, also a foreigner, that he raped her.
The 27-year-old presented herself to the Police and complained that while on the same night she met the 28-year-old in a nightclub and they were having fun, then the man followed her against her will to her residence and after entering voluntarily he raped her.
After the complaint, the Police began intensive investigations and today the 28-year-old was located and arrested. He was brought before the Paphos District Court which issued an eight-day detention order against him.
The 27-year-old underwent tests, while at the same time the Police investigations continue.
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Cyprus Mail
A six-day remand order was issued by the Larnaca district court against a 62-year-old man for illegal possession of 55 grammes of cocaine and possession of an offensive weapon, after causing a traffic accident, police said on Wednesday.
“Members of the drug squad (Ykan) identified and arrested the man after a vehicle inspection while he was driving from Larnaca to Dhekelia. He is believed to be involved in drug trafficking,” police said.
They added that as soon as the man noticed the presence of the police, he attempted to escape, resulting in his car colliding with a service vehicle.
A subsequent search revealed a nylon bag containing 55 grammes of cocaine and a wooden bat, both of which were confiscated.
“The man underwent a drug test which revealed a positive result, and was arrested,” police said.
The man appeared before the Larnaca district court on Wednesday, which issued a six-day remand order against him, while investigations continue.
