Pafos Press 25 April 2026
The Paphos District Court today ordered the renewal of the detention order for a period of eight days against a 41-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, who appeared before it in the context of an investigation into a serious case involving conspiracy to commit a felony, arson and other offenses.
According to the Police, the two suspects were arrested on April 15 following an operation that took place in the early hours of the morning in Paphos, when they were spotted parking outside a property and heading towards it with a bottle and an object that looked like a bat in their possession.
As soon as they noticed the presence of the police officers, they boarded the vehicle and fled, driving recklessly and dangerously, resulting in a collision with police cars and then fleeing towards the Paphos - Limassol highway.
The vehicle, which had fake registration plates, was later found outside a house in a village in the Nicosia district. The 41-year-old was found inside the house, while the 19-year-old was found walking on a dirt road in the area shortly afterwards. During his arrest, the young man allegedly attacked a police officer, hitting him in the face, resulting in his arrest for a flagrant offence.
The allegations of the two suspects are being investigated, while a large number of statements are expected to be taken in the case to facilitate the investigations.
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Filenews
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, seven persons were arrested for various offenses, such as carrying cutlery, assault and causing concern.
During the night, 356 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 469 drivers and passengers were checked. At the same time, 51 inspections of premises were carried out, from which seven complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 124 complaints were made about various traffic violations, of which 43 concern speeding. A total of 124 alcohol tests were carried out during which one driver was found positive. At the same time, four preliminary drug tests were carried out with a positive result. Also, as part of the police examinations, five 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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Developments are recorded in the case of the video that saw the light of day and concerns the beating of a minor, as the authorities have already proceeded to identify the two persons involved, i.e. the victim and the perpetrator.
According to the Police, the TAE Nicosia has undertaken the investigation of the case, with the investigations being in full swing. Statements are already being taken from persons who may be related to the incident, while the visual material that has been released is also being examined.
The authorities are cautious, as this is a case involving minors, which limits the publication of information at this stage. As it is pointed out, no further details can be given at this time, in order to ensure the proper investigation of the case and the protection of the persons involved.
The examinations continue, with the competent services focusing on clarifying all the circumstances under which the incident occurred.
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The Police are investigating a murder case, after the death of 85-year-old Charalambos Kounnapis, who was being treated at the Nicosia General Hospital.
The 85-year-old had been attacked during a robbery committed at his home, in the province of Nicosia, on December 20, 2025.
A 19-year-old is on trial for the case, until the trial of the case, which is being tried by the Criminal Court.
The TAE of Morphou continues the examinations.
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The Supreme Court rejected an application by two persons from Nicosia for the annulment of a search warrant issued against their residence, ruling that its extradition was lawful, sufficiently justified and based on reasonable suspicion.
The case concerns a search warrant dated May 20, 2025, which was issued as part of a police investigation into serious incidents that occurred on May 18, 2025 at the AEL Lakatamia club. According to the evidence put before the Court, a group of about 50 people with covered faces and equipment, such as bats and stones, entered the premises, caused extensive damage and attacked patrons, injuring several.
The Police, using testimony from closed surveillance circuits and information from reliable sources, linked the two applicants to the incidents, claiming that they actively participated in the attack, travelling on a motorcycle without license plates and having their faces covered. Based on these data, both arrest warrants and a search warrant were obtained for their residence, with the aim of locating evidence, such as clothing with insignia, helmets, hoods and offensive objects.
The applicants appealed to the Supreme Court requesting the issuance of a warrant of certiorari for the annulment of the search warrant, arguing that there was insufficient connection of their residence with the wanted objects and that the description of the objects was general and vague, giving too wide a discretion to the Police.
The Court, however, held that the testimony presented before the lower court was sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion as to both the applicants' involvement and the connection of the objects with their residence. As noted, the law requires that there be reasonable cause to believe that the objects sought are located in a specific place, without requiring high-level proof.
Particular importance was attached to the fact that the items sought, such as clothing, footwear and face coverings, are everyday items that are reasonably kept in a person's home. In addition, the Court held that the description of the items was not vague, as it was specifically linked to the offences under investigation and included clear categories, such as insignia, clubs and helmets.
Rejecting the claims of an "impermissibly broad discretion", the Court underlined that each case is judged on the basis of its particular circumstances and that in the present case there was a sufficient connection between the objects sought, the offences under investigation and the residence of the applicants.
The Supreme Court also reiterated that privileged warrants, such as certiorari, are granted exceptionally and only in cases where there is a misuse of jurisdiction or an error of law, which was not the case in the present case.
Therefore, the application was rejected in its entirety, with the Court awarding the costs in favour of the Republic and at the expense of the applicants.
