Pafos Live 21 January 2026
Around 11.00am yesterday, a physiotherapist in Timi reported to the Police that damage was found to the property - specifically to a window and the wall despite the entrance of the premises, which was probably caused by a shot.
Members of the Police went to the area, where they are conducting examination
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Phidias Panagiotou is in the crosshairs of the European Public Prosecutor's Office for renting a luxury mansion with European funds.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has begun investigating a complaint against Cypriot MEP Phidias Panayiotou for squandering EU money. According to information from POLITIS, the investigation against the MEP began after complaints to the Anti-Corruption Authority about two months ago.
The same information states that the complainants provided evidence to the Anti-Corruption Authority, which shows the MEP to have rented a mansion in Limassol which he christened "offices", at a monthly cost of around €5-6,000. In fact, the complaints show the MEP using the mansion as a holiday home and holding various parties.
The Anti-Corruption Authority examined the complaints against the MEP and then forwarded the evidence to the European Public Prosecutor's Office along with comments from the investigation that the Authority itself conducted in Cyprus. In a question sent to the European Public Prosecutor's Office, there was no willingness to comment. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, as said by the Anti-Corruption Authority, has launched an investigation to investigate the allegations against the MEP.
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In the context of the actions carried out by YKAN for the detection and seizure of drugs, members of the Service in cooperation with the Greek Authorities and the Customs Department, received as evidence two packages coming from abroad.
In the two packages, there were carefully hidden nylon packages, containing a total of two kilograms and about 160 grams of cocaine.
Regarding the first package, a 28-year-old person was arrested yesterday after a coordinated operation by YKAN in Limassol and was taken into custody.
The examinations continue by YKAN Limassol.
Update - Filenews - Camouflaged in a board game, one package of drugs was found, which contained a quantity of cocaine of more than one kilogram, while the second had a different recipient. It is noteworthy that the parcels were from the Box Now company and were to be shipped from Greece to Cyprus.
The 28-year-old suspect, who received the package yesterday afternoon, was brought before the Limassol Court today Wednesday (21/1) for the issuance of a detention order for a period of eight days, with his lawyer not objecting.
According to information from Filenews, on January 15, information was received from the Greek authorities that two parcels of the Box Now company were found at Athens Airport with final destination Limassol, which contained narcotic substances. Subsequently, it was requested to notify any intention of the Cypriot authorities to carry out a controlled delivery from Greece to Cyprus.
The first package contained a board game, inside which there was a hidden improvised nylon package with cocaine weighing 1.092 grams. The sender was a woman's name, while the recipient was a man, with a Box Now box at the delivery point in the area of Omonia. The second package, which also contained cocaine, had a different sender and recipient, as well as a different delivery point.
Subsequently, all the necessary actions were taken so that the packages in question were delivered to a member of YKAN and then the narcotic substances were replaced with dummy.
On January 19, the parcel was placed in the box of the delivery point and a relevant message was sent to the mobile phone of the alleged recipient. On January 20 in the afternoon, the 28-year-old suspect went to the scene on foot, entered the relevant code, opened the safe and received the package, which, however, contained the drug effigies.
Immediately afterwards, members of YKAN, who had put the suspect under surveillance, proceeded to arrest him.
A search of his home followed, but nothing was found. Questioned in writing at the offices of YKAN Limassol, the 28-year-old refused to answer the investigators' questions, exercising the right to silence.
Another 27 statements are expected to be taken for the case, while examinations will be carried out to identify closed surveillance circuits, in relation to the movements of the suspect before and during his transition to the point of receipt of the package, as well as to identify his possible accomplices.
At the same time, investigations will be carried out through Interpol regarding the senders of the drugs.
It is noted that investigations are continuing for the second package of cocaine, which appears to have been imported in the same way.
The 28-year-old is being investigated for the offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal importation of cocaine weighing 1 kilogram and 92 grams, illegal possession, as well as illegal possession for the purpose of supplying to another person.
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Filenews
A couple of pensioners in Larnaca experienced terrifying moments, when an unknown man beat and robbed them yesterday afternoon, in the premises where they live in a rural area in Aradippou.
According to a complaint made to the Police, around 5.30 yesterday afternoon, an unknown man knocked on the door of a prefabricated house located in a remote area. The owners of the property, two Greek Cypriots aged 73 and 66, opened the door and then the unknown man put a knife and pushed them, causing them to fall to the ground. He then hit the husband on the chest and grabbed two mobile phones, credit cards, as well as a sum of about €100.
The tenants were not injured but went to the Larnaca General Hospital as a precaution, where they were examined and discharged. Their mobile phones were located in the area of the residence. It is estimated that the robber grabbed them so that they could not notify anyone and could escape undisturbed.
The two pensioners gave a description of the man who attacked them, with the Police looking for testimonies in order to locate him.
The Aradippou Police Station is examining a case of armed robbery.
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The targeted preventive operations of the Police continued during last night, with an enhanced presence in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
As part of these operations, members of the Police identified and arrested a total of five persons for various offenses. Specifically, in Nicosia, one person was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, in Limassol one person was arrested for not appearing before a Court, while in Paphos two persons were arrested for fine warrants. Also, the members of the OPOD arrested a person for driving at excessive speed.
During the night, more than 400 vehicles were stopped for inspection, while more than 600 persons on board were checked. At the same time, 23 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of preventing and suppressing delinquent behaviours.
From the traffic checks carried out, 121 complaints related to various traffic violations emerged. A total of 64 alcohol tests were carried out on vehicle drivers, from which one complaint emerged. At the same time, as part of the investigation of traffic offenses, three vehicles were detained.
These operations are part of a broad, continuous and strengthened preventive plan of the Police, with an increased police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action in all provinces, with the aim of preventing crime and strengthening the sense of security of citizens.
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The unprecedented scam for the theft and sale of agricultural products that some people seem to have set up in communities of Laona in the province of Paphos, after new complaints were submitted to the Police, is back in the news. The scam was brought to light by "F" last April and after a long period of interruption of the action of those involved in the scam, it seems that they have resumed the same practice.
According to complaints submitted to Paphos authorities and officials, women working in crops and other businesses in the area, enter fields, in some cases riding four-wheeled motorcycles, steal agricultural products and immediately afterwards sell them to people who are obviously in the bay and waiting nearby.
The incredible things that seem to be happening in communities in the area came to light when a woman who owns crops spotted a woman in her field who arrived at the scene driving a four-wheeled motorcycle. According to what the complainant complained, when her unknown woman noticed her, and when the owner asked her what she was doing to her property, she started taking photos with her mobile phone. The foreign woman told her that she stopped for some photos of the surrounding area.
In the meantime, however, the owner had managed to realize that a large number of the products she cultivates had already been cut and placed in bags next to the four-wheeler. When she left to notify her relatives, a commercial vehicle appeared at the place with an unknown man who was approached by the foreign woman with the agricultural products. The man was seen giving her a €20 note, with the woman reacting angrily and the "buyer" then increasing the amount to €40, receiving the products and leaving the scene.
The owner managed to photograph the four-wheeler in her field before the unknown woman left and filed a complaint. As it seems, the issue is not isolated, since other plantation owners have also reported incidents of similar thefts and direct sale of products, in a way that makes it clear that this is an organized situation.
The complaints were also made to Paphos officials. MP Chrysanthos Savvidis confirmed these allegations, speaking of an organized spiral.
Residents and growers in Drousia and other areas, he stressed, complain that women on four-wheelers literally invade crops, cut off the fruits and immediately afterwards people appear with vehicles that pay, take the products and disappear.
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The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the criminal appeal of a convicted person, upholding the multi-year prison sentences imposed on him by the Nicosia Criminal Court for a number of serious sexual offenses against a minor and for child pornography offenses. It is noted that the sexual offenses were committed with the participation of a third person, who suffers from mental retardation.
The decision was issued on January 15, 2026 in the composition of Judges Stavros, Konis and Papadopoulos.
The appellant had been convicted at first instance of 17 charges, which concerned, inter alia, coercion of a child under the age of 13 into sexual acts, inducing participation in pornographic performances, production and possession of child pornography material, as well as distribution of relevant material through communication applications. The offenses were committed during the period 2014–2020, with the main victim being a minor who worked as a trainee at the accused's premises.
For categories 2 and 4, the Criminal Court had imposed concurrent sentences of 10 years in prison, while for categories 3, 5, 6 and 7 concurrent sentences of 12 years. In his appeal, the convicted person argued that the sentences were manifestly excessive, citing a limited role in the commission of the offences and claiming cooperation with the prosecuting authorities.
The Court of Appeal rejected these claims as unfounded. As emphasized in the decision, the appellant did not have limited involvement, but was the orchestrator and organizer of the crimes, which were committed for his own perverse benefit. The fact that the sexual acts were committed with the participation of a third person, who suffered from mental retardation, not only does not mitigate his responsibility, but could also be considered as an aggravating factor.
With regard to the alleged cooperation, the Court adopted the position of the Criminal Court that consent to investigations carried out on the basis of warrants and the provision of conflicting testimonies do not constitute substantial cooperation. On the contrary, the defendant's attempt to influence a witness was pointed out, which showed a lack of remorse.
The Court of Appeal underlined that these offenses carry penalties of up to life imprisonment and that severity is required for crimes that affect children, causing lifelong mental trauma. It held that the penalties, although severe, are fully justified, within the framework of the case law and do not constitute an error of principle or a manifest exaggeration.
In the end, both grounds of appeal were rejected and the conviction as well as the prison sentences remained in force.
