Traces of flammable material were found by the police during the investigation of thefire yesterday morning in a car in the center of Tremithousa. The vehicle belongs to a 56-year-old foreigner who lives in the community.
The fire service responded in the early hours of the morning to a call about a fire in a vehicle in the village of Tremithousa. According to the authorities, at 04:30 the fire service received a call and responded to a fire in a private vehicle parked on the side of the road near his residence.
The vehicle suffered extensive damage from the fire. To extinguish the fire, water pipes were used by two fire trucks.
Members of YKAN conducted a search yesterday afternoon pursuant to a court warrant at the home of a 36-year-old man in Larnaca.
During the search, the following were located and confiscated both inside the house and in the car of the 36-year-old:
- Two packages containing a white solid cocaine substance with a total gross weight of 2 kg and 220 grams
- 30 nylon packages containing a white solid substance of cocaine with a total gross weight of 977 grams
- A nylon package containing a white solid cocaine substance with a total gross weight of 31 grams
- 8 flares
- Two packages containing eight fireworks each
- Five packets containing five fireworks each
- The sum of €4,000
- A precision scale
- A shotgun
- 24 limesticks
It should be noted that the large amount of cocaine was carefully hidden and was located after methodical efforts by members of YKAN as well as an evaluation of the 36-year-old's behaviour during the investigation.
During the search, two motorcycles were also found inside the house and seized, which did not have registration numbers, as well as a car.
The 36-year-old was arrested for self-inflicted offenses and taken to the offices of YKAN (Larnaca Unit) where he was interrogated in writing and then taken into custody.
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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, six persons were arrested, for various offenses, including the offense of illegal stay on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, illegal possession of drugs, driving a stolen vehicle, drunkenness and causing concern. During the night, 424 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 540 drivers and passengers were checked. At the same time, 34 inspections of premises were carried out, from which 5 complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 226 complaints were made about various traffic violations, of which 87 concern driving at excessive speed. A total of 114 alcohol tests were carried out during which one driver tested positive. Five drug tests were also carried out with two positive indications. Also, as part of the police examinations, 5 vehicles were detained.
Policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue every day, with an enhanced police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action, in order to protect citizens and ensure public order.
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A 25-year-old woman was arrested today in the early hours of the morning, in Ayia Napa, by members of the Police, for the self-inflicted crime of illegal possession of a controlled drug (laughing gas) for the purpose of supply.
Specifically, members of the Famagusta OPE, shortly after midnight today, located the 25-year-old woman in whose possession a metal bottle, 64 unused nitric oxide capsules, 68 balloons as well as the sum of 100 euros were found and confiscated.
Subsequently, from an inspection carried out by the members of the Police, regarding the residence status of the 25-year-old, it was found that she resides illegally in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus
The 25-year-old was taken into custody and is expected to appear today before the Famagusta District Court for immediate registration of the case against her.
The case is being examined by the Ayia Napa Police Station.
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With references to the handling of the Social Welfare Services (SWS) in the case of 14-year-old Stylianos in September 2019, criminal investigator Andreas Andreou testified on Monday before the Nicosia District Court that, in his estimation, the child should have been placed in the care of the SWS, even for some time, in order to ensure his protection.
Today's proceedings concerned the continuation of the cross-examination of one of the two criminal investigators of the case, Andreas Andreou, by the lawyer of the third accused, an official of the SWS, Victor Akamas.
During the cross-examination, Mr. Akamas referred the witness to a testimony he received in the context of the investigation of the case by the former director of the SWS in August 2020, in which it was stated that a SWS official who became aware of an incident of violence in the family should file a complaint with the Police and inform his supervisor.
Asked whether any testimony proving that Stylianos suffered bodily injuries resulting from violence was secured, Mr. Andreou replied that "there is no medical testimony that has been collected during the investigation".
He noted, however, that there were reports that the minor had appeared at school with marks, saying that he had been hit with a belt, while on other occasions he reported that his father was "beating him like a dog" and that he was "beating him in the paddock".
The cross-examination then focused on the interdepartmental manual of the SWS for the handling of incidents of domestic violence, which was in force at the time in question. The witness stated that, from the examination of the entries of the third defendant, who was the responsible "base officer" and systematically monitored Stylianos, he did not find any explicit reference as to whether the child was in immediate danger.
"I'm not saying that no actions were taken," he said, adding, however, that "there was no proper investigation and some immediate actions that should have been taken."
According to him, some incidents were allegedly not forwarded to the Police for investigation, while the efforts of the SWS officials to communicate with the child's father, who allegedly behaved abusively, did not yield the desired results.
Mr. Andreou also claimed that the situation in the family "remained problematic", despite the actions taken by various stakeholders.
"What prompted me and Mr. Pogiatzis, as criminal investigators of the case, to suggest the possible commission of the specific criminal offenses is that from kindergarten to the middle of the second grade of elementary school, whatever was done to protect Stylianos seems to have been not enough. The situation was out of control," he said, adding that "it does not seem that anything substantial was done that helped Stylianos or the family on the part of the SWS."
Responding to a question whether the SWS officials, and specifically the third defendant, as the responsible "base officer" in the case of Stylianos, should have acted differently based on the data that existed in the period 2010-2012, the witness answered in the affirmative.
"If Stylianos had moved away from his parents, he would probably be alive today. I believe that, under the circumstances and based on the information we had in the period 2010-2012, Stylianos should have been placed under the care of the Social Welfare Services, even for some time, in order to ensure his protection," he said.
At another point in the proceedings, the witness referred to information recorded by the third defendant during her first visit to the family home, according to which there was a shotgun assembled on a bed, while it was noted that in one case Stylianos' father went to the child's school with a shotgun.
As he said, these data, combined with other information that existed in the child's file kept by the SWS, "should have made the Services act immediately", as there were also reports of improper exercise of the parental role.
Mr. Akamas then referred the witness to the testimonies of former directors and heads of the SWS who were performing duties at the time in question, according to which the removal of a minor from his family was a "last resort" and the officials primarily sought to maintain family unity.
Mr. Andreou agreed that this was the approach applied by the SWS during the period in question, adding, however, that this "does not mean that it is the right approach".
Reference was also made to a multi-thematic meeting held on the case of Stylianos at his school in October 2011 with the participation of teachers and other experts, in which the possibility of moving the child from the family home was discussed.
According to the witness, the third defendant presented the problems that existed and raised issues related to the possible movement of the child from home, however the transfer did not take place in the end.
The cross-examination of the criminal investigator will continue tomorrow at 11:00.
It is recalled that the case concerns the tragic death of 14-year-old Stylianos Konstantinou in September 2019 and examines whether there were responsibilities both within the family and on the part of state services.
The process focuses mainly on whether there were cases of abuse or neglect within the family, whether the mother was aware of incidents and did not report them, as well as whether the competent officials of the SWS evaluated and adequately handled the information in front of them.
CNA
With the only sentence provided by the Criminal Code for the crime of premeditated murder, that of life imprisonment, the Limassol Permanent Criminal Court sentenced today (9/6) the 25-year-old accused of the double murder of Andreas Kouzoupis and the 38-year-old Slovak David Chmelar.
The two victims were found charred on July 30, 2024 in a vehicle, which was on a dirt road in the Listrovounos area of Limassol district, after they had previously been murdered with a shotgun in the area of Arakapas.
The conviction was imposed after the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of premeditated murder. The penalty for this offense is the only and maximum penalty provided for by the Penal Code (Article 203, Chapter 154).
The Criminal Court, in a unanimous decision, imposed two consecutive life sentences on the 25-year-old. This decision differs from the usual practice of imposing concurrent life sentences and has a direct impact on the possibility of requesting conditional release. In the case of concurrent sentences, the convicted person may submit a relevant request after serving 12 years of imprisonment, which is examined by the Board for the Release of Prisoners on Leave. However, in the present case, due to the imposition of consecutive life sentences, the possibility of submitting such a request is postponed after serving 25 years.
The Criminal Court pointed out that the accused "plunged two families into mourning", underlining that, despite the fact that the shootings occurred within a short period of time, they were two independent and independent criminal acts.
Today's decision also refers to the case of the triple murder with convicted Christakis Thomas, known as "Lokatzi", in which the Court of Appeal had imposed consecutive sentences of life imprisonment.
The Court held that the defendant acted in a way that took the lives of two people, showing complete disregard for the supreme good of human life.
It is noted that yesterday Monday (8/6) the lawyer of the 25-year-old defendant and delivered a written text with speeches focuses on the issue of the succession of the sentence. At the previous hearing (May 29), before the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol, the Prosecuting Authority, represented by the Senior Lawyer of the Republic Andreas Aristides, presented the facts of the case and clarified that the 25-year-old (second) defendant was not the person who handled the shotgun during the killing of the victims.
As reported in Court, the 25-year-old accused, after the imposition of his sentence, is expected to testify as a prosecution witness in the case of his co-accused, who to date denies the charges attributed to him.
The events of the double murder
According to the facts of the case, on July 30, 2024 and after 23:00, the second defendant, together with another person, went by car to the area where the water tank is located in Arakapas, Limassol district.
On their way to the scene, they were in possession of a shotgun. At around 23:30, Andreas Kouzoupis and David Chmelar, who were riding in a vehicle driven by the latter, went to the same place, after prior consultation with the other person. During the meeting of the four persons, the 25-year-old defendant and the other person, acting together, killed Andreas Kouzoupis and David Chmelar.
Specifically, as premeditated, the two victims were shot consecutively in the head area with a shotgun. It is clarified that the second defendant was not the person who handled the shotgun during the killing of the victims. The vehicle in which the bodies of the two victims were then transported by the second defendant and the other person to the area of Listrovounos in the Limassol district.
There they pushed it onto a dirt downhill side road of the Parekklisia - Kellaki road, where it crashed into a tree and was immobilized. Subsequently, after being supplied with flammable material, specifically gasoline, they set fire to the vehicle, as a result of which it was completely destroyed and the bodies of the victims were charred. The 25-year-old defendant was arrested on August 1, 2024, at 20:45, following the execution of an arrest warrant issued against him.
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Jewellery worth €9.882.000 was allegedly handed over to a 54-year-old Greek Cypriot in Limassol, with the intention of selling them as a representative, however he then allegedly "disappeared".
According to the data under investigation, the jewellery was delivered on June 6 by a foreign owner of a company based abroad and active in the manufacture of precious jewellery.
The 54-year-old allegedly received the jewellery to proceed with their sale, but without, as reported to the Police, returning the price or the items themselves.
The case is being investigated as theft by agent.
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A 28-year-old man sentenced to three years in prison for stealing €20, which he later returned, is being set free 11 months into his term.
The appeals court on Monday overruled the court of first instance, taking into consideration the circumstances of the offences and the man’s personal situation.
He had been stopped by the police in July 2025 for inspection, following a series of attempted kiosk robberies by a man with a knife in Strovolos.
In October 2024, the man had attempted to rob two kiosks and managed to leave with €20 from the second scene.
When questioned, the man admitted to committing the crimes and returned the stolen money.
Having had a clear criminal record until then, he was handed concurrent prison sentences, with the longest being three years.
He then got a new defence lawyer, who appealed the sentence.
Maria Athanasiou told the appeals court that the prison sentence was unfair and harsh, and that neither his personal conditions nor his reintegration difficulties had been taken into account.
The prosecution, however, defended the court of first instance ruling, saying it was not an isolated incident but four different ones, during which the man bearing a knife had entered kiosks and bakeries demanding cash.
It also said the man’s personal conditions had been taken into consideration, including that he was a drug addict and had a family.
The appeals court heard that the man has suffered childhood trauma, had been abandoned, bullied and experienced loss, leading to his drug addiction, personality disorders and self-destructive behaviour. He had also lived in foster homes.
The court recommended further investigation into a possible family history of psychiatric issues, as well as if the appellant was in the autism spectrum.
The court said the man’s sentence was strict but not excessive, however the court of first instance could have passed suspended sentences, given that the man had already been in custody at the central prison for 11 months.
The appeals court suspended the sentence to “give him a second chance”.
