Pafos Live 18 December 2025
As part of the investigation of a case of internet fraud and extortion of a sum of money, a 41-year-old man, holder of a European identity card, was arrested in a European country, under a European arrest warrant.
The arrest of the 41-year-old came after collecting and evaluating evidence, following a complaint by a 71-year-old resident of the province of Famagusta, which was made in December 2021.
Specifically, during July 2021, the 71-year-old had placed an order for truck parts from a company in a European country. The 41-year-old presented himself as a representative of the company in question and asked the complainant that the money be sent to an account other than that of the company, as a result of which the money ended up in an account in another European country.
An arrest warrant was issued against the 41-year-old arrested man and then a European and international warrant. He was arrested in a European country in April 2025 under the European Arrest Warrant and the process of his extradition to Cyprus began.
The 41-year-old surrendered last night to the Cypriot authorities at Larnaca airport where he was re-arrested on the basis of the court arrest warrant pending against him and was taken into custody.
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Filenews
First appearance the day before the Nicosia Court for the five defendants in connection with the discovery of the 14 mobile phones and 12 chargers, all camouflaged in a small refrigerator intended for a lifer.
The lifer Marios Christodoulou, otherwise known as Benis, was in the dock, as well as four citizens accused of a case involving conspiracy, importation of prohibited items and an attempt to supply the mobile phones and chargers in a refrigerator to the prisons. Benis has been sentenced in 2017 to four life sentences for the murder of Fanos Kalopsidiotis, a police sergeant, his wife and a foreigner. The quadruple crime was committed in Ayia Napa in a restaurant on 23/6/2016.
In the dock along with the lifer, there were four other persons who were allegedly related in one way or another in the case, whether they provided the refrigerator, or the mobile phones and chargers and packed them or transported them to prison. It is noted that the order for the refrigerator was made by another convict, as the Police had reported to the Court in a detention procedure, who was not prosecuted after it was judged that he did not know about mobile phones.
Benis' lawyer, Andriana Klaidi, raised the issue of non-delivery of the entire witness material by the prosecuting authority, as a result of which the case was postponed without the five being charged and called to answer the charges against them. The case was set for 18/2/2026 for the five to hear the charges and give their answer.
It is noted that based on the legislation, the introduction or attempt to import a mobile phone into prisons is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to €10,000 or both penalties together.
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There is intense concern in the Limassol Police Department after the second incident of arson that took place against a well-known foreign businessman, who is a close associate of Stavros Demosthenous.
According to the Police, arson took place in the early hours of Thursday (18/12) in a liquor store located on Georgiou Avenue in Germasogeia.
Specifically, around 3:40 in the early hours of Thursday, an unknown person approached the premises and, using flammable material, set fire to the entrance of the liquor store.
The Fire Service was immediately called to the scene, which managed to extinguish the fire before it spread.
The fire caused material damage to the glass showcase and the entrance of the cellar, without any injuries.
The scene was cordoned off by members of the Police, while the examinations continue to identify the perpetrator.
It is estimated that the persons behind the criminal actions seek to exert pressure on businessmen operating in Limassol, possibly in relation to issues of protection or business activities.
The foreign owner of the liquor store and close associate of the murdered Stavros Demosthenous is expected to go to the offices of the Limassol Police Department to give a statement.
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Various prison sentences, with the longest being 3,5 years, were imposed yesterday (17/12) by the Limassol Permanent Criminal Court on the 32-year-old Greek Cypriot defendant, after he admitted to charges related to attempted destruction of property with explosives, possession of weapons and explosives and sparklers.
The 32-year-old was arrested by the Limassol Police Department in November 2024, after a bomb exploded in the early hours of October 3 in the vehicle of a 78-year-old man, parked outside his home in Agios Athanasios. The accused admitted that he was the person who transported the perpetrators of the bomb attack in his van to the area where the explosion was committed.
The Criminal Court imposed a prison sentence of 3.5 years for the charge of attempted destruction of property with explosives, 2.5 years for each category of possession of firearms and 2 years for possession of explosives. The sentence will be counted from the day he was detained, i.e. from November 2024.
The Court took into account various mitigating factors presented before it by the defendant's lawyer, Iraklis Agathocleous. In particular, the direct admission of the accused before the Court, his clean criminal record, his family and personal circumstances, as well as the fact that he is the father of two minor children, with the youngest being born while in custody, were taken into account.
After reading the decision, the president of the Criminal Court stated that the sentence imposed has this amount due to the accused's admission and the responsibility that falls to him for his family, while addressing him she pointed out that "he should stand by his wife and children".
According to the facts of the case, the investigators of the Limassol Police Department located the traces of the 32-year-old after thorough examinations and a study of the closed surveillance circuits in the wider area. The movements of the two perpetrators who were riding a large motorcycle were recorded on video. Specifically, in the area of Germasogeia, around 02:00 in the early hours of October 3, 2024, a van-type vehicle was parked. After the doors opened, the motorcycle departed. Subsequently, the passenger was recorded getting off the motorcycle and placing the explosive device in the front of the vehicle. A few minutes later, the motorcycle was recorded in the same place where the van was parked, where the doors were opened again and the motorcycle was placed inside.
Further examinations revealed that the vehicle belongs to the accused. After his arrest, his residence and container were searched, where two pistols, two magazines with 26 cartridges, two military rifle magazines, 62 hunting cartridges and 25 full 9mm cartridges were found. 34 9mm cartridges were found in the car, while a bow was also found.
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The decision not to prosecute further in relation to the cases that had been brought against one of the two Greek Cypriot defendants was made yesterday, Thursday, by the "district court" in occupied Trikomo. The case involved accusations of alleged violation of personal data and privacy.
During today's proceedings, the "prosecutor's office" filed a file suspending the prosecution against the male defendant, who allegedly drove the vehicle on July 19. Following this development, the "judge" ordered his immediate release.
Subsequently, the defense informed the "court" that the second defendant accepts the charges against her. It is noted that, according to what was said in the proceedings, the accused in question maintains property in the occupied territories, which she inherited from her father. The "prosecution" presented the history of the cases.
The announcement of the "court's" decision on the female defendant was set for December 22, 2025.
As reported from the occupied territories, the man, for whom it was decided today to suspend his prosecution, remains in the occupied territories and will await the result of the "trial" regarding the fate of the second accused.
CNA
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The Limassol Permanent Criminal Court today imposed a 7-year prison sentence on the 36-year-old defendant, who was found guilty of 16 counts of sexual abuse of a child. The offenses concerned the minor daughter of his 34-year-old partner, who, due to being the mother of a 20-month-old child, was fined a total of €5.000.
The accused in 16 cases in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (four cases per year) sexually abused the minor, who had not reached the age of consent. He touched her in controversial parts of her body, while it was judged that he acted by abusing the position of trust and power he had towards her.
A fine was also imposed on the accused mother, who faced two charges related to interference in a judicial process and failure to report suspicion. At the stage of the closing arguments, she admitted the first charge, while the Court also found her guilty in the second. It was found that on an unknown date in 2023, while she knew that the minor was a victim of sexual abuse, she failed to proceed with the relevant complaint.
"Offenses of a sexual nature, in themselves, cause disgust and revulsion. However, in cases where natural, moral and social rules are violated and the victim is a minor, the above feelings are increased to the maximum extent", the Criminal Court emphasizes in its decision.
He also stated that as follows from the case law to which the Court referred, in cases of sexual offenses the penalties imposed must be strict and dissuasive, in view of their particular seriousness as crimes that are directed against morals but insult and devastate the personality of the victim.
It is also a finding of the Criminal Court that, unfortunately, child sexual abuse offenses are on the rise, despite the severe penalties imposed by the Courts.
Given the seriousness of the offenses for which the 36-year-old defendant was found guilty, when imposing the sentence, the Criminal Court took into account his repeated action and the large number of incidents, lasting 20 minutes each time, which took place during a particularly long period of time, with similar traumatic experiences for the minor. The age of the minor at the time of the commission of the offences was also taken into account, i.e. 8 – 12 years old, as well as her relationship with the accused, being the daughter of his partner, as well as the age difference between them.
In his favour, his clean criminal record and his personal circumstances were taken into account. However, as the Criminal Court pointed out, all the above mitigating factors, although taken into account, cannot neutralize the deterrent character that the sentence should have in the present case, due to the particular seriousness of the offenses, as explained in detail in the decision.
Regarding the accused mother of the minor, the seriousness of the offenses she committed was pointed out, which consisted of her inaction to file a complaint with the Police, after being informed by the minor about what she was experiencing, and her attempt to persuade the minor to withdraw the complaint she had later submitted to the Police. This attitude of the 34-year-old defendant is unacceptable in itself, while at the same time it constitutes a serious violation of the duty of protection she had towards her minor daughter.
The accused partner was sentenced to concurrent 7 years in prison on all the charges he was found guilty of, which will be counted from 5.9.2024, when he was taken into custody.
He abused her during her visit to her mother's house
According to the findings of the Criminal Court, the minor had been living with her father since the age of four due to the separation of her parents. The 36-year-old defendant had been living with her mother since 2016. Because the father worked in the afternoon hours, the minor often went to the house where her mother lived with her partner and remained there for 3-4 hours until he picked her up.
During these hours, while the mother was away shopping or doing household chores, the 36-year-old approached the minor and committed lewd acts. According to the facts cited in a press release of the Court, the minor was afraid and wanted to cry. When she asked him to stop, he replied that it was "normal" and that "everyone does".
Based on the testimony of the minor, which was accepted by the Court, the incidents began when she was 8–9 years old and lasted until the age of 11–12. They happened mainly in the afternoon hours.
In 2023, when the minor was 12 years old, she informed her mother about what she was experiencing from her partner. However, she did not make any complaint, despite her obligation. In the same year, at a meeting between the minor and an educational psychologist, the student stated that she did not want to go to her mother because her partner was committing lewd acts and when he told her mother, she did not believe her. The psychologist activated the relevant protocol and informed the minor's father and the Police.
Although initially the minor was hesitant to file a complaint, a year later she confessed what she was experiencing to a friend, who eventually informed the Police, as a result of which the complaint was officially submitted.
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The Court of Appeal overturned the first-instance decision of the Limassol District Court concerning the detention of the 51-year-old defendant as a defendant in the case of the murder of Stavros Demosthenous. The 51-year-old was released on parole and is summoned to appear before the Permanent Criminal Court, to which the case has been referred for a hearing, on January 29, 2026.
The 51-year-old's lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, appealed again against the detention of his client as a prisoner in the Central Prison, citing five reasons. Speaking to Filenews, Mr. Alexandrou said that the Court of Appeal ruled that it was an error of the Limassol Court of First Instance to assess that there was a risk of evasion.
He explained, in fact, that from the moment the Police notified the 51-year-old through his lawyer, he voluntarily came to the Court for the referral of the case. Then, the Court that dealt with his case set conditions for him to appear before the Police until the referral process was completed. He noted that there was a weekend until the decision was issued and, nevertheless, the accused was attributed a tendency to evade justice, a fact that his own lawyer wondered how it came about.
The Court of Appeal did not examine all five grounds of appeal, but limited itself to two, which were interrelated and related to the behaviour and general attitude of the appellant. As claimed in the decision, the Court of Appeal relied on the behaviour of the 51-year-old, ruling that it did not indicate a tendency to evade justice.
The 51-year-old was released under restrictive conditions and specifically is obliged to hand over his travel documents and his details will be registered in the list of persons prohibited from leaving the Republic. In addition, he is required to deposit the sum of €10,000 in cash, sign a guarantee of €100,000 with a creditable guarantor and report twice a day to the Paphos Central Police Station.
It is recalled that the Judge of the Limassol District Court on November 17 had approved the request of the Prosecuting Authority, noting that the personal circumstances of the 51-year-old accused, the seriousness of the offenses and the possibility of conviction make the public interest in the administration of justice override, imposing the detention of all the accused.
It is noted that another judge of the Limassol District Court on November 5, during the process of renewing the detention of the 51-year-old as a suspect, had again ruled in favour of his release. The accused, of Greek origin, had been connected to the stolen Mitsubishi Colt, in which jerry cans with flammable material were found as well as his DNA, which were allegedly intended for the destruction of evidence.
As recorded by closed surveillance circuits, persons approached the victim's home on October 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 and boarded stolen vehicles (white van and Mitsubishi Colt). The vehicles followed specific routes to the victim's home and the crime scene, reinforcing the scenario that the murder plan was already in place. On October 5, 2025, the theft of the Mitsubishi Colt by a priest in the St. Anthony area was reported. Three days before the murder, the Police located the vehicle in an open area outside the Sfalagiotissa cemetery, near the scene of the execution of the victim.
A total of six people are accused of the murder of Stavros Demosthenous. Three of the accused are said to have had casual roles, while three Greek expatriates from Georgia seem to have played a leading role in the execution. In fact, one of them, the 28-year-old with the initials A.Z., according to the investigators of the Limassol Police Department, is said to have "locked" as the person who executed Stavros Demosthenous.
