Pafos Press 3 May 2026
Second attack in 24 hours - After the grenade, ambulances set on fire at the clinic owned by him
According to the Police, at around 01:00 in the early hours of Sunday, a fire broke out in four ambulances, which were parked in a parking lot of the clinic in Geroskipou.
The fire was extinguished by members of the Fire Department. The ambulances were parked next to each other.
The damage is extensive and is located in the front of the ambulances but has not yet been calculated.
From the preliminary examinations, the fire at first glance appears to have been started maliciously.
The examinations will continue today.
It should be noted that the owner of the clinic was also targeted by attackers a few hours ago when unknown persons threw a defensive grenade at his home in Agia Marinouda. A 59-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the incident. According to the Police, the grenade was preceded by an arson attempt also within a short period of time.
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Cyprus Police
The presence and action of the Police was intense last night, throughout Cyprus, with the conduct of organized patrols in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, ensuring public order and increasing the public's sense of security.
In the context of these operations, during the night, 494 drivers and 106 passengers were stopped and checked.
50 checks of premises were carried out simultaneously, with the aim of dealing with delinquency phenomena, where nine (9) complaints arose.
During the traffic checks that were carried out, 269 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 6 cases of traffic violations that were under investigation also arose.
Of the complaints made, 118 complaints of drivers for exceeding the speed limit stand out, while in the context of police examinations, four (4) vehicles were seized.
160 alcohol tests were also carried out, resulting in three complaints, while after an inspection, one driver tested positive for drugs.
Coordinated policing operations to prevent and suppress crime continue daily, with increased/enhanced police presence, targeted checks 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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Filenews
The 38-year-old who allegedly punched an assistant referee yesterday at a football match is on a party ballot in the Limassol district. The person in question is under arrest and is expected to be brought before the Larnaca District Court for the issuance of a detention order.
The facts
The incident took place during a football match between the teams Rotsidis Mammari - APOP Parekklisia, in the context of the STOK integration championship.
Specifically, towards the end of the match, an unknown person threw a plastic bottle, which hit the assistant referee. At the same time, the second person (the parliamentary candidate) entered the field and attacked him, punching him.
After the incident, the match was interrupted and the assistant referee was transferred to Larnaca General Hospital, where he underwent the necessary medical examinations and was discharged.
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A driver convicted in absentia for violating a red light saw the Court of Appeal uphold his sentence, ruling that even hearing testimony can, under certain conditions, support a conviction without violating a fair trial. Therefore, the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of the driver who had been sentenced at first instance by the Nicosia District Court to a fine of €150.
The case concerned an accusation that the appellant, while driving a vehicle at a specific intersection, did not comply with the red light. The accused did not appear in court at the initial hearing or afterwards, with the result that the case was heard in his absence.
During the hearing, a constable witness for the prosecution testified that he knew the facts from the study of the case file, adopting the content of the indictment. The court of first instance found the testimony credible and in the absence of a rebuttal concluded that the accusation was proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The appellant challenged the decision by claiming that the conviction was based on second-degree hearing testimony, in violation of relevant legislation and constitutional rights, including the right to a fair trial. He argued that the witness who testified did not have direct knowledge of the facts, but relied solely on the content of the file, while the person who had made the initial complaint was not called to testify.
The Court of Appeal, in its unanimous decision, ruled that the main issue was not the trial of the case in absentia, but whether it was permissible to admit this testimony. He found that the constable testimony constituted hearing testimony, but noted that Cypriot law does not preclude such testimony simply because of its nature.
The Court placed particular emphasis on the fact that the appellant, although duly summoned, chose not to attend his trial, thus waiving the right to contest the testimony or to request the presence of the complainant police officer for cross-examination. In these circumstances, he held that the admission of testimony did not violate due process.
At the same time, the Court of Appeal acknowledged that the court of first instance failed to adequately justify why the hearing testimony could be a basis for conviction. However, it described that omission as non-essential, taking the view that it did not affect the proper administration of justice.
As noted in the decision, the testimony presented was deemed sufficient to prove the accusation, while no evidence emerged that casts doubt on the accuracy or credibility of the complaint.
In conclusion, the Court of Appeal held that, despite the individual error in the reasoning, the first instance decision was correct in its substance and there was no improper administration of justice. Therefore, the appeal was dismissed and the conviction was upheld.
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Illegal parking in a space exclusively for catering ended up in the Court of Appeal, with the driver not only questioning his conviction, but also putting forward a series of arguments that eventually collapsed, leading the Court to the final confirmation of his guilt, as it emerged from the Larnaca District Court.
The case concerned a charge of failure to comply with a traffic signal, as the appellant was found to have parked his vehicle in a space intended exclusively for supply vehicles. The court of first instance had reached a guilty verdict, accepting the testimony of the prosecution and rejecting the defendant's claims.
The appellant challenged the decision with nine grounds of appeal, arguing, inter alia, that the indictment was based on an erroneous legal basis, that it had not been proven that he was driving the vehicle himself at the time in question and that there was insufficient testimony about the existence or content of the relevant plate.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, rejected all the claims. With regard to the first ground of appeal, it considered that there was a sufficient legal basis for summoning the appellant to apologize, indicating that the current legislation imposes an obligation to comply with traffic signs not only on the driver, but also on persons who have the responsibility or control of the vehicle.
Regarding the claim that it was not proven who was driving the vehicle, the Court noted that the overall testimony and the appellant's own positions clearly showed a connection between him and the vehicle and the incident. It was also pointed out that he had made allegations of malicious complaint against him, but these were not substantiated.
The Court of Appeal also rejected the arguments regarding the traffic license plate, ruling that there was clear and reliable testimony about its content and that the prohibition of parking in non-supply vehicles was clear. He emphasized that the appellant did not substantially challenge the understanding of the prohibition, nor did he claim that his vehicle was being used for catering purposes.
Particular reference was also made to the grounds of appeal concerning the distinction between "supply vehicles" and "supply vehicles". The Court held that this distinction was not essential for the trial of the case, as the essence of the violation was the non-compliance with the traffic sign and not the characterization of the vehicle.
In relation to the evaluation of testimony, the Court of Appeal reiterated that it does not easily intervene in first-instance judgments unless a clear error is found. It found that the court of first instance had adequately evaluated the testimonies of the witnesses, including the persons who allegedly had previous differences with the appellant, without any malice in the prosecution.
Finally, the claim that the legality of the installation of the disputed sign was not proven was also rejected. The Court upheld the application of the principle of normality, noting that there was no evidence to rebut the presumption that the competent authorities acted lawfully.
In conclusion, the Court of Appeal ruled that the first instance decision was correct and within the framework of the evidentiary process, rejecting all the grounds of appeal and upholding the conviction of the appellant.
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The authorities in Nicosia arrested a special police officer, following a complaint about a threat against his wife.
According to information, the person in question allegedly threatened his wife that he would kill her.
The case is being investigated by the TAE of Nicosia.
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Members of the Anti-Drug Service (YKAN), as part of a coordinated operation, arrested two people today.
They are a 33-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman. Their arrest was preceded by a search of their home in Limassol, pursuant to a court warrant, during which the following were located and confiscated:
- Amount of cannabis weighing 136 grams
- A quantity of cocaine weighing 12 grams
- A small amount of methamphetamine (2 grams)
- 20 tablets ecstasy
- Smoking utensils
- Precision scale
- Amount of money.
The two arrested were taken into custody to facilitate investigations.
YKAN (Limassol Unit) continues the examinations.
