Pafos Live 30 June 2026
The Criminal Court that met today in Paphos, imposed a ten-year prison sentence on a 36-year-old, after finding him guilty in connection with a case involving the illegal possession of cannabis for the purpose of supply.
At the same time, the Court sentenced the 36-year-old to three years in prison for the crime of negligent driving.
The Court ordered that the penalties be met.
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The permanent criminal court of Paphos yesterday imposed concurrent prison sentences with a maximum of six years on the 59-year-old Greek Cypriot who attempted to murder his wife, outside their residence in Pegeia. He had shot her twice with a shotgun, was hospitalized and now the couple has divorced.
The accused admitted that he shot the victim and that he called the Police, also stating that he regretted it. He cooperated with the police authorities..
The court stated that the perpetrator paid damages to the victim and the family, totalling €130.000 to her, €10.000 to her lawyer and €21.000 to their minor daughter, while he gave away assets, including an apartment registered in the name of the minor daughter and two more apartments for which he pledged not to claim rights. An affidavit of the complainant was also presented that she has been fully compensated and does not maintain any claims.
The court decided that the time of serving the sentences will be calculated from the day of his detention, i.e. from 28.01.2025.
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Two men from Romania, aged 39 and 42, were arrested on the basis of court warrants, as part of the investigation of a case involving offenses of causing injury, carrying a knife, illegal possession and carrying of an offensive instrument and threat.
According to the evidence under examination, around 9.00 last night, the two suspects went to the house of a 35-year-old man in the province of Paphos, also from Romania, demanding the payment of a sum of money, which he allegedly owed to the 39-year-old.
The 35-year-old was absent and a 26-year-old employee and their compatriot were in the house, whom the two arrested allegedly attacked using a knife and a golf club and then left the scene.
The 26-year-old was taken to Paphos General Hospital, where he was found to have a bruise on his arm and abrasions. The 39-year-old also went to the same hospital, who was found to have a hand injury and after receiving first aid, he was also discharged.
The two suspects were arrested on warrants and taken into custody to facilitate investigations.
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Family tragedy in Limassol. A police officer serving in the Port and Maritime Police shot and seriously injured his wife and then ended his life.
The woman was transported and is being treated intubated in critical condition at the Limassol hospital.
Update - Filenews - The narration of an eyewitness is shocking, who describes what, according to him, unfolded in front of his eyes shortly before the tragedy in Zakaki.
As he reported, around 6:45 in the morning he was driving his car by the spot, to go to work. Then, as he claims, he saw a man in the vehicle holding a woman by the neck.
"I yelled at him to leave her. He replied 'get out of here, it's my wife', while he turned to the woman and told her to tell me that he doesn't do anything to her," he said.
According to the eyewitness, the woman waved to him with her hand that she needed help. As he claims, the man pulled a pistol out of his waist, pointed it at him and threatened him, telling him: "Go away, I'll shoot you."
The witness also claims that immediately afterwards the man shot the woman and then pointed the gun at himself.
As he stated, the man was wearing police uniform and the incident unfolded in the middle of the street, outside a school.
"In front of my eyes he shot her. He shot her in the head and three more shots to her body followed," the eyewitness concluded.
Update 2 - According to new information, the 46-year-old woman who is being treated by intubation in an extremely critical condition is the second wife of the 55-year-old police officer.
The perpetrator is the father of four children, two of whom he had from his first marriage and two with the victim. One is an adult and is reportedly studying medicine, while their second child is a girl of only 16 years old.
The details of the heinous crime are shocking, as it seems that the police officer left the house first in the morning, went to work where at around 6:07 he was charged with his weapon which, according to the evidence so far, seems to have been used in the incident. He then informed his colleagues that he would leave, telling them "I'm going for five minutes and I'll be back" and then left in his vehicle.
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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, twelve persons were arrested, for various offenses, among others, illegal stay on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, burglary and theft, carrying knives and causing actual bodily harm. During the night, 446 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 574 drivers and passengers were checked. At the same time, 31 inspections of premises were carried out, from which 1 complaint emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 227 complaints were made about various traffic violations, of which 66 concern speeding. A total of 103 alcohol tests were carried out during which 1 driver was found positive. 6 drug tests were also carried out with 1 positive indication. Also, as part of the police examinations, 3 vehicles were detained.
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A 30-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning at Larnaca Airport, against whom an international arrest warrant issued by the UK authorities was pending.
Specifically, the 30-year-old arrived yesterday morning at Larnaca Airport on a flight from a country outside the European Union.
During the passport control, it was found that an international arrest warrant is pending against him, issued by the UK authorities, for the offenses of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, which were committed in 2023.
The 30-year-old is expected to be brought before the Larnaca District Court today, to begin the extradition process to the United Kingdom.
TAE Larnaca continues the exams.
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On Saturday 27/6, officials of the Customs Department, during routine checks at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, proceeded to check the luggage of two women, mother and daughter, holders of British passports, who were transported by taxi registered in the occupied areas and were going to travel with a minor child to the United Kingdom.
During the inspection, a total of 16 boxes of 200 cigarettes were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in the Greek and Turkish languages, nor the safety feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The two women were arrested for flagrante delicto, while the tobacco products were confiscated. They were later released, after a proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the offenses with the payment of a total amount of €960 was accepted.
On 29/6, also at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, officials of the Customs Department proceeded to check a vehicle driven by a Turkish Cypriot with British citizenship.
During the inspection, a total of 10 boxes of 200 cigarettes and tobacco packages with a total weight of 850 grams were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in the Greek and Turkish languages, nor the safety feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The driver was arrested for flagrante delicto, while the tobacco products and the vehicle were confiscated. He was later released, after an out-of-court settlement of the offenses with the payment of a total amount of €1000 was accepted.
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A 33-year-old man was arrested yesterday by the Police, as part of an investigation into cases of residential burglaries and thefts committed in the city and district of Limassol.
The 33-year-old was arrested on a court warrant and during his interrogation, he allegedly admitted to committing five burglaries and thefts, which were committed in the city and district of Limassol, during the period between April and June 2026.
The TAE Limassol continues the examinations.
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The 35-year-old Syrian who is wanted for the stabbings in Strovolos, against his wife and mother-in-law, remains missing.
His wife had been identified by the Police as a victim in the family, which is why she had the "ELPIS" application on her mobile phone, however she had not had time to press the red button.
The Syrian alleged perpetrator, Ahmet Al Zouaid, has been wanted by the authorities since last February for a case of domestic violence, but he remained a phantom. Last Saturday he struck again, stabbing his wife and mother-in-law at their home in Strovolos. Fortunately, the condition of both, although judged to be serious, is out of danger.
The investigations of the investigators of the TAE Nicosia continue and extend to several places where the 35-year-old, who is considered dangerous, may be hiding. The Bicommunal Committee has also been informed about the case, so that in case heis detected in the occupied areas, he can be handed over to the Authorities of the Republic.
Police patrols with the photo of the wanted man are looking for him in various areas where he may have taken refuge, while the two victims, his 38-year-old wife and her 58-year-old mother, are guarded at the Nicosia General Hospital. So far, they have not given detailed statements to determine exactly what happened and where the perpetrator may be.
It will also become clear why his wife, while she had downloaded the "ELPIS" application on her mobile phone, which concerns victims or potential victims of domestic violence, had not pressed the button for help. It is possible that the perpetrator surprised the two women and so the 38-year-old did not have time to ask for the silent help or that he knew that he owned the application and took her cell phone.
Everything will be clarified through their testimonies and especially the circumstances under which he stabbed them but also the reasons why the perpetrator acted with such violence.
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Reversal in the terrorism case with the accused 33-year-old, 38-year-old and 54-year-old, all of Palestinian origin.
The Court of Appeal, examining a relevant request from the Attorney General, decided today that the 54-year-old had wrongly been released on parole until the first appearance at the Criminal Court, which was set for August 6. So, with his verdict, he sends the 3rd defendant to the cell, who will be held until the beginning of August with a pre-trial regime, for which the Criminal Court, where the case was referred, will be judged to decide.
We remind you that on June 12, the Court of First Instance had decided that the 33-year-old and the 38-year-old should be in custody, while examining the request of the 54-year-old through his lawyer, it decided that the latter should remain free under conditions, which are summarized in the following Court report: "He must sign a bail of €1 million with creditable guarantors, hand over his travel documents and report 4 times a week to a police station."
The three defendants, according to the indictment, face 11 serious charges (terrorism and conspiracy to murder, etc.), since they allegedly acted on behalf of Hamas and prepared a strike against Israeli interests in Cyprus. The first two defendants were presented as the cores of the plan, while the 54-year-old allegedly arranged the transport of packages containing precursors for the manufacture of explosives. As part of the investigation of the case, search warrants had been executed in an apartment in Larnaca and in a mansion in Governor's Beach, where the headquarters of the accused were allegedly based.
Following the instructions of the Attorney General, the Legal Service appealed the decision to release the 54-year-old on parole, for whom "F" had revealed that four of his children serve in the security forces of the Republic of Cyprus.
The Senior Lawyer of the Republic, Andreas Aristides, who represented the Legal Service, claimed as a ground of appeal that the decision of the Larnaca District Court is erroneous both in terms of the facts and in terms of the application of the relevant legal principles. He also argued on the basis of his arguments that the discretionary power of the District Court was improperly exercised.
The Court of Appeal, examining what was put before it, approved the relevant request. Three points from today's verdict are characteristic:
>> ''… wrongly recorded that the relative of the respondent acted as he did wishing to help the respondent because he was absent outside Cyprus. Something like this does not emerge from the witness material, what is recorded in it is that the person in question intended to help his relative's acquaintance. He also erroneously recorded that the respondent told his relative that the package contained camping supplies. This information is recorded in the witness material, but its source is not established. One of the packages bore an indication that it was flammable material, an indication which the relative of the respondent found and therefore placed it in the garage of his house."
>> "Given the error of principle of the Court of First Instance, we find that it emerges, from the witness material, that the respondent is connected with the charges he is adequately facing, to the extent that he meets the criterion, as set by the case law, regarding the likelihood of conviction at this stage, without of course excluding the reasonable expectation of his acquittal."
>> "In view of our finding regarding the erroneous judgment of the Court of First Instance, the consideration made by it of the respondent's ties with the Republic and his personal circumstances in order to arrive at the imposition of conditions (...) The offences he faces carry multi-year prison sentences, including life imprisonment on the terrorism charge. There does not seem to be a state of affairs that, according to a reasonable assessment, removes the possibility of evasion of justice, in order to avoid possible consequences from a serious case, such as the present one. What the Court of First Instance took into account did not indicate conditions of the existence of ties with the Republic capable of outweighing the seriousness of the offenses, the possibility of conviction and the possible penalty in case of conviction of the respondent".
