Pafos Live 19 February 2026
In the context of data collection and evaluation, members of HEPO conducted a search in the apartment where a 21-year-old man lives in Limassol.
During the search, 263 captagon tablets, with a total weight of about 44 grams, were found under the 21-year-old's bed.
The 21-year-old was arrested for a self-inflicted crime and taken to the offices of YKAN. After being interrogated, he gave some allegations which are being investigated.
He was then taken into custody while YKAN continues the examinations.
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Filenews
The Police arrested two persons during the night, while 133 traffic violations were also recorded.
The presence and action of the Police last night was intense, throughout Cyprus, with organized patrols in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, ensuring public order and increasing the sense of security of the public.
As a result of the preventive policing operations, two persons were arrested for various offences, such as, among others, illegal possession of drugs and illegal stay on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
As part of these operations, during the night, 446 checks were carried out on drivers and passengers of vehicles. At the same time, 32 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency.
During traffic checks carried out, 133 complaints emerged, concerning various traffic violations, of which 35 driver complaints for violating the speed limit stand out. 12 traffic cases also emerged. As part of the checks, 68 alcohol tests were carried out during which 4 complaints emerged. As part of the police investigations, 11 vehicles were detained.
Coordinated policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue daily, with an increased/enhanced police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action, with the aim of increasing the sense of security of citizens/protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
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The Court of Appeal unanimously rejected the appeal of a stepfather who had been convicted by the Paphos Criminal Court for 18 counts of sexual offenses against his minor stepdaughter, as well as the appeal regarding the sentence imposed by the accused, fully upholding the judgment of the Paphos Criminal Court.
As stated in the decision, dated February 12, 2026, the charges related to acts committed during the period 2018-2019, when the complainant was 13 years old, and included, among other things, rape, sexual abuse of a child by abuse of a relationship of trust, as well as offenses of domestic violence.
The Court of Appeal reiterated the well-established principle that "the Court of First Instance is generally in a better position to judge in the lively atmosphere of the trial and to evaluate the witnesses before it".
One of the reasons for the defendant's appeal was that "the Criminal Court erred in evaluating the testimony of the experts". As stated in the decision of the Court of Appeal, "whether or not the sexual abuse of the minor in question took place is the ultimate question of the case, the outcome of which is the task of the adjudicating Court and not of any expert witness". The appeals court also noted that "it is not the role of the expert to testify or comment on the credibility of a particular witness" and that "the heavy and difficult task of judging the credibility and the final verdict rests with the judges".
Therefore, the Court of Appeal ruled that there was no scope for its intervention in the evaluation of the experts' testimony by the Criminal Court.
In relation to the testimony of relatives, the Court of Appeal noted that "we do not find, in this regard, that the Criminal Court used different criteria for the evaluation of the relatives of the Complainant", as one of the grounds of appeal. "With all due respect, we do not find anything to justify the lawyer's claim for the Appellant that his right to be judged by an impartial court was violated," the Court of Appeal added.
As for the complainant's testimony, the Court of Appeal ruled that there was no scope for its intervention in the evaluation of the complainant's testimony by the Criminal Court, which was reasoned and detailed.
Regarding the testimony of the accused, the decision of the Court of Appeal records the following: "In this regard, we do not agree with the position put forward in the Defendant's diagram that the approach of the Criminal Court was intended to justify the conviction rather than to actually examine the words of (the Accused). The Criminal Court justified why he did not accept his testimony and there is no scope for our intervention."
As far as the appeal against the sentence is concerned, the Court of Appeal ruled that there was no reason for him to intervene. He stressed that the seriousness and multiplicity of offenses, the abuse of the relationship of trust and the age of the victim are aggravating factors that justify the sentences imposed. He recalled that the intervention of the Court of Appeal in the sentence is justified only when it is "manifestly excessive or manifestly insufficient" or when an incorrect principle has been applied, which, as it held, was not the case in the present case.
In conclusion, the Court of Appeal ruled that "there is no scope for our intervention" neither in terms of the evaluation of the testimony nor in terms of the amount of the sentences, rejecting both the appeal against the conviction and the appeal against the sentence as unfounded and upholding the first instance decision of the Paphos Criminal Court.
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The Supreme Court, exercising appellate jurisdiction, significantly increased the general compensation awarded to a young man, who was seriously injured in a car accident in Limassol, while rejecting the driver's appeal in its entirety. The accident occurred in 2008 and caused the young man permanent damage and lifelong medical consequences.
The accident occurred on December 4, 2008, around 20:45, on Ierou Lochou Street in Limassol, opposite Moliere Street. The appellant was driving his vehicle on a straight road about 7.80 meters wide, when he dragged the then 16-year-old respondent, who was trying to cross the road.
The point of collision was located about 3.10 meters from the sidewalk to which the minor was heading. No traces of braking were found on the road surface, which, according to the Court, shows that the driver noticed the pedestrian at the last minute and did not have time to brake.
The driver claimed that he saw a "shadow" in front of him and attempted to manoeuvre to the right, citing limited lighting and the pedestrian's dark clothing. However, the Court held that it had not adequately adapted to the visibility conditions, had not exercised proper observation and had not properly adjusted its speed and running lights.
At the same time, it was found that the 16-year-old did not adequately assess the danger from the oncoming vehicle. Thus, the Court of First Instance had divided the responsibility at a rate of 80% to the driver and 20% to the pedestrian, a judgment that the Supreme Court upheld as correct.
The serious medical consequences
The minor suffered a severe craniocerebral injury and lung contusions. He was hospitalized as a multi-injured person in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nicosia General Hospital, intubated and in a comatose state.
Medical examinations showed multiple brain contusions, bleeding and epidural hematoma. He then developed left hemiparesis, behavioural disorders and was diagnosed with post-traumatic epilepsy, for which he is receiving medication.
The Court accepted that brain damage persists and is a source of epileptic seizures. The injured man experienced episodes of loss of consciousness with convulsions, while it was judged that he was significantly limited in his activities. He cannot drive or work in heavy or dangerous work, and may need lifelong medication.
Testimony of a former teacher confirmed that after the accident he showed strong behavioural changes, nervousness and difficulty concentrating, in contrast to his pre-accident image.
The decision on compensation
The Court of First Instance had awarded €80,000 as general damages, €1,840.55 as special damages and €50,000 for loss of future income (the latter were reduced to €40,000 after the apportionment of liability).
The driver appealed, asking for a reduction in the amounts and a reversal of the findings, while the injured person appealed, asking for an increase in both the percentage of responsibility and compensation.
The Supreme Court rejected all of the driver's grounds of appeal, as well as most of the grounds of cross-appeal. However, it accepted the plea relating to the amount of the general compensation, holding that the initial amount was insufficient in relation to the seriousness of the injuries, the risk to life suffered by the young man and the permanent remains.
The amount of the general indemnities was set at €200,000 on full liability. After the deduction of 20% due to concurrent negligence, the final amount awarded amounts to €160,000.
Compensation for loss of future income (€40,000) and special damages remained unchanged, while a claim to cover tuition fees and study rent in Athens was rejected, as they were not considered a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the accident.
The end result
The appeal was dismissed in its entirety and the cross-appeal was partially upheld. The Supreme Court also awarded costs of €3,500 plus VAT in favour of the respondent.
The judgment confirms, according to the Court, the increased duty of care incumbent on drivers towards pedestrians, especially in conditions of limited visibility, as well as the importance of correctly assessing the permanent consequences of serious craniocerebral injuries when determining compensation.
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YKAN's large operation in a warehouse in the province of Nicosia may have much larger dimensions.
Newer information from filenews states that although the officials of the Anti-Drug Service did not count the quantities of cocaine and cannabis, it is estimated that the total weight of the drugs exceeds 100 kg.
In the warehouse there is also a sum of money, as well as explosives in the sense of the term, as it is used in the legislation.
We remind you that two arrests have already been made.
The operation of YKAN, as we are informed, has been underway for days. Evaluating information, the members of the service monitored the last 24 hours.
