Pafos Live 18 June 2026
The clash in the morning between two Syrians in a building in Mouttalo was bloody. As the victim complained, his compatriot, after an argument, pulled out a knife and slightly injured him. The trauma is superficial.
The perpetrator is expected to be arrested. The reason for the confrontation is reportedly personal differences.
* * * * * *
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 police operations, 13 persons were arrested for offenses such as impersonation, illegal employment, illegal employment, failure to appear before the Court, arson of a motorcycle, traffic offenses, etc.
As part of these operations, during the night, 1,084 drivers and 297 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 36 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where two complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 816 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 22 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 208 driver complaints stand out for exceeding the speed limit and 109 for not being free hands while driving, while as part of the police examinations, 9 vehicles were detained.
173 alcohol tests were carried out, from which 11 complaints emerged, while two drivers tested positive in preliminary drug tests.
* * * * * *
The Police are investigating a case of negligent and reckless acts, possession of drugs, as well as committing serious traffic offenses, against a 25-year-old motorcycle driver, who was arrested by members of the Police for spontaneous offenses, during a traffic check yesterday at noon, in the province of Famagusta.
Specifically, shortly after 11.30 yesterday at noon, while members of the Special Motorcyclist Platoon - EOMO, of the Traffic Department of the Headquarters, were conducting a traffic check in the area of the Paralimni-Deryneia roundabout, they noticed a 25-year-old man riding a motorcycle, without wearing a protective helmet and called him to stop for a check.
The 25-year-old developed speed and changed course, as a result, under circumstances that are being investigated, one of the police officers was hit by the motorcycle and injured his hand, while the motorcycle then crashed into a parked car and stopped at the scene.
Members of the Police subjected the 25-year-old to a check, during which a crusher with traces of plant matter believed to be cannabis was found in the storage area under the driver's seat of his motorcycle.
The 25-year-old was subjected to a driving test under the influence of alcohol, with a reading of 21 instead of up to 9 μg% which is the allowed limit, while he was also found positive in a preliminary test for driving under the influence of drugs and was arrested for spontaneous offenses.
The 25-year-old was then taken to the General Hospital of Famagusta where he underwent medical examinations and was discharged. The member of the Police, who was also discharged, also underwent medical examinations at the hospital.
Upon completion of the police investigations, the 25-year-old was released, to be summoned at a later stage before a court for the trial of cases of committing criminal offenses, as well as traffic violations. The 25-year-old was served with a letter suspending his driver's license.
The Paralimni Police Station and YKAN (Famagusta District Unit) continue the examinations.
A large campaign to identify illegal employment in Larnaca was carried out by the Aliens and Immigration Service, with the participation of teams from the Police Headquarters and the local YAM.
According to the available information, the checks were carried out in the Palm Pitz area, focusing on premises and workplaces, as part of the effort to crack down on illegal employment.
Officials from the competent Labour Offices also participated in the operation, while the object of the inspections is to identify possible violations related to the employment of persons without the required permits or procedures.
From the operation, 34 people of various nationalities were arrested for the offenses of illegal employment, while two of the above persons were also arrested for the offense of illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
These are people who were working on the construction of a large hotel in the tourist Oroklini.
The announcement of the Police
Members of the Aliens and Immigration Service, in cooperation with officials of the Labor Inspection Service of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, carried out an inspection this morning at a specific construction site in Larnaca, as part of the actions carried out to combat illegal and undeclared work.
During the inspection, a total of 34 persons of various nationalities were identified, who were arrested for the offenses of illegal employment, while two of the above persons were also arrested for the offense of illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
As it appeared from the examinations carried out, the above arrested are employed by eight persons, to whom out-of-court notices for undeclared employment were issued.
The Oroklini Police Station continues the examinations.
* * * * * *
A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday by virtue of a court warrant pending against him and was taken into custody, to facilitate investigations regarding a theft from a car committed on 15/6/2026 in the province of Famagusta.
A search of the hotel room where he is staying followed, during which electronic devices, wallets, bags, perfumes, car keys and other items were found which were received as evidence. Interrogated orally, the 28-year-old was unable to give satisfactory explanations regarding their origin and possession and was re-arrested for the crime of illegal possession of property.
During the investigation of the case, testimony emerged against the 28-year-old, for another 12 cases of theft from cars.
He was brought before the Famagusta District Court this morning, which issued an eight-day detention order.
The TAE of Famagusta continues the exams.
* * * * * *
The incredible story of an Iranian who came to Cyprus in 2006. disappeared in 2011 and came back to the fore when in 2012 an envelope with forged documents in his name arrived at Larnaca airport. For eight years he was not located and in 2020 he was arrested, interrogated and has now been found guilty of the forged documents.
Specifically, yesterday, the Iranian, 46 years old, was found liable to four charges related to forgery and fraud as well as illegal stay in Cyprus. The Iranian came to Cyprus with a fake passport from Turkey, applied for political asylum which was rejected and since 2011 he has remained illegally in our country. In December 2012, an envelope arrived at Larnaca airport through a courier company, which contained a fake Italian identity card and a fake Danish passport with a photo of the same person but different details, addressed to a person with the details of the accused. An attempt was made to deliver the envelope accompanied by the Police to the address indicated, but the recipient was not there. The door was opened by a third person from Iran, who stated that he was a roommate of the accused and that he was absent. Finally, he was located in 2020 where he was interrogated, while the investigation of the case lasted about four years due to the fact that the accused was wanted and not located.
It was the position of the accused that he came to Cyprus in June 2006, because his life was in danger in his country of origin, and that, for this reason, he submitted an application for asylum to the Republic. He denied that he ever ordered forged documents or that he needed to do so, explaining that he knew that the use of such documents could put his life in danger. In his position, instead of taking such a risk, he preferred to remain in the Republic illegally. He also mentioned that, in terms of appearance, he could not convincingly present himself as a Dane or an Italian. He denied that he lived at the address indicated in the file and stated that he did not know his roommate. The defendant also referred to the risk that, according to his position, he faces in the event of his return to Iran. He said that he was only recently informed of his brother's arrest and that his brother's name appears, after a search on the internet, as a political prisoner. He explained that, due to the latest developments, he has already sent his file for the reopening of his case.
The Court ruled that the explanation given by the Iranian that he had no reason to take risks with forged documents is not in itself absurd. However, his testimony is also contrasted with the objective elements of the case and the rest of the testimony. The envelope bore his details as a recipient and a phone number which he accepted as his own. Following this, he was found guilty.
* * * * * *
The 24-year-old Greek Cypriot defendant was referred to a direct trial before the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol today, Thursday (18/6) in connection with the case of attempted murder with a 23-year-old victim in Limassol.
The young man appeared today before the Limassol Court after the expiration of his detention order where the registration and referral process of the case took place. The Court referred the case to a Criminal Court, which will meet on July 20, and ordered his detention as a prisoner until the start of the trial. The 24-year-old faces the charge of attempted murder.
It is noted that the victim, after the surgery and while he was in the hospital room, in the presence of a police officer, allegedly said: "he insulted me...", naming the 24-year-old.
While in a statement given by the 23-year-old, he stated that the person who injured him was the accused.
He claimed, in fact, that there had been a misunderstanding between them and that the 24-year-old attacked him and injured him with a knife.
As it turned out, the two young men were allegedly misunderstood via Instagram over fan content issues, but other motives were not ruled out.
It is recalled that the case concerns the serious injury of a 23-year-old Greek Cypriot. According to the evidence under examination, there was a heated argument between the victim and another person, which developed into a bloody fight last Tuesday afternoon outside a property in Kato Polemidia. During the incident, the 23-year-old was seriously injured with a knife, while the perpetrator left the scene and escaped.
The 23-year-old suffered a six-centimeter-long serious injury to the ascending part of the right colon, as well as a rupture of the intestinal wall. In addition, a second traumatic injury about two centimeters long was found.
* * * * * *
On 17/6/2026, officials of the Customs Department at Paphos Airport, after evaluating information, located 2 British passengers aged 29 and 27 respectively, before their departure to Bournemouth, United Kingdom with their 4-year-old child, with their luggage containing large quantities of cigarettes, the packaging of which did not bear the marking for the harmful effects of smoking in Greek and Turkish, but neither did the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
Specifically, a total of 215 boxes of 200 cigarettes each were found in the couple's 3 pieces of luggage. The passengers were arrested for flagrante delicto, while their luggage and contents were confiscated. They were later released, after their proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the offenses with the payment of €12,900 was accepted.
Also yesterday, on 17/6/2026, officials of the Customs Department at the Astromeritis-Zodia Crossing Point, during the usual vehicle checks, found a quantity of pesticides in a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot, which are prohibited from moving from the occupied to the free areas according to the provisions of the Green Line regulation.
* * * * * *
The exact circumstances of the death of a 27-year-old man from Syria are being investigated by the Police, who reportedly broke into a car junkyard yesterday afternoon and after tension arose at the scene, he boarded a vehicle and left the scene.
Subsequently, the 27-year-old was involved in a traffic accident in the center of Nicosia, at the statue of Solomos, where he crashed with the stolen vehicle into a concrete wall. According to the information, the 27-year-old Syrian was initially conscious, while passers-by called an ambulance.
The 27-year-old was taken to Nicosia General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of this morning.
The Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident, with the legal autopsy expected to show the exact causes of his death.
* * * * * *
The Supreme Court rejected a borrower's appeal against a decision that obliges him to pay the Bank of Cyprus an amount of €70,630.15 plus interest, ruling that he is bound by the mortgage loan agreement he signed for the purchase of a house in Deryneia, despite the fact that the house was never completed by the construction company.
The case concerned a mortgage loan of €95,680 granted in 2008 for the purchase of a maisonette under construction. As collateral for the loan, the buyer had assigned to the bank his rights to the deed of sale, while the project was also covered by a mortgage on the property.
The appellant argued that he had no substantive contractual relationship with the bank, that he never received money from the bank and that the loan amounts were paid directly to the construction company for work that was ultimately not completed. He also argued that the bank should have checked the progress of the works before releasing money and that, since the residence was never delivered, he was not responsible for repaying the loan.
The Supreme Court held that the borrower had signed both the loan agreement and the relevant assignment and authorization documents to the bank. According to the findings of the first instance proceedings, he had sent a letter authorizing the bank to release amounts to the contractor based on progress certificates issued by the supervising engineer of the project, while acknowledging that the bank was not obliged to verify the content of the certifications.
The judges pointed out that the bank's contractual obligation was limited to releasing money when the prescribed certificates were presented and that there was no condition requiring it to ensure the completion or delivery of the residence. At the same time, they noted that the buyer and the selling company maintained the obligations between them arising from the sales document.
The Supreme Court also rejected the claim that the loan agreement was invalid due to discrepancies in the dates shown in the documents. As stated in the decision, the borrower admitted that he signed the agreement and, based on settled case-law, is bound by its content unless exceptional reasons, such as fraud or misleading, are proven, which was not the case in the present case.
The Court disagreed with part of the first-instance approach to the classification of a particular term as "burdensome", but held that this did not affect the final outcome of the case. He even underlined that the amount of the decision had already been limited to the value of the works that turned out to have been carried out on the property, according to indisputable expertise.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the appellant remained obliged to pay the loan instalments and that the breach of his obligations justified the termination of the contract and the claim of the amount due. The appeal was unanimously dismissed, with the appellant also incurring legal costs of €3,000 plus VAT, where applicable.
* * * * * *
The Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol imposed a 4-year prison sentence today (18/6) on the 44-year-old coach and football agent of a team, after admitting to serious charges related to sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor, solicitation of a child for sexual purposes and gaining access to child sexual abuse material.
The Criminal Court imposed on the accused concurrent prison sentences of 4 years on the charges of gaining access to child pornography material and child solicitation and 3 years on the charges of sexual abuse. A decree was also issued prohibiting him for 3 years after his release from prison to offer services to children, to be employed or employed in places with children, to live in an area adjacent to organized places where children are or frequent.
This is the case revealed by Filenews on their website according to which the accused asked underage football players for nude photos and videos, offering them money and sexual aids in return.
According to the facts of the unprecedented case, the 44-year-old asked underage football players through Instagram and other communication applications for photos and videos depicting their genitals, in exchange for sums of money. Two minors are allegedly involved as victims in the case. In one case, he allegedly proposed to one of the two minors to meet in a hotel in Limassol, for the purpose of the sexual act for a fee of €150. The offences were committed in June 2025.
How the case was revealed
As revealed by "F", the case came to light when other parents of underage football players informed the parents of a 16-year-old, who immediately filed a complaint with the authorities. In mid-June 2025, the 16-year-old complained that he plays for a team where the 44-year-old is a football agent and, from time to time, performs coaching duties. According to his testimony, at the end of 2024 he began to communicate with him through social networks, initially for training issues, however the communication soon took on a sexual character.
The accused sent him a photo and asked him if he was self-satisfied. The minor felt uncomfortable and informed his teammates, one of whom admitted that he had received similar messages. During January 2025, the 16-year-old was added by an unknown user in a group chat on an app. He quickly realized that the account belonged to the accused. The user continued to communicate with the minor by sending him videos and photos.
A second minor, according to the 16-year-old's claims, said that he received an offer from the 44-year-old to send him nude photos of himself, in exchange for €50 and a sex aid. This minor allegedly accepted. The 16-year-old also stated that, after pressure, he sent photos, while the accused allegedly sent him nude photos himself and asked for videos of sexual acts.
* * * * * *
The much-praised case of importing almost €8 million by a 32-year-old Ukrainian woman, who transferred the money by making 20 trips to Cyprus, fell soft. The 32-year-old was sentenced to 20 months in prison today, after being found guilty of only 20 charges, related to untrue statements to Customs.
It is noted that initially there was talk of money laundering, however the Permanent Criminal Court ruled at a previous hearing that no evidence of criminal activity reached it. That is why at the time he had acquitted the accused Ukrainian woman of the 20 charges of money laundering (laundering law), which carry up to 14 years in prison. At the same time, he had acquitted a 43-year-old Ukrainian, who allegedly received a package of money on one occasion.
The case came to light on March 1, 2024 after the 32-year-old complained to the Police that she was the victim of a robbery in Limassol by strangers on a motorcycle, who snatched €420.000 from her, as she said. Investigations followed that led to the arrest of the 32-year-old, after it was found that from August 2023 to March 2024 she arrived in our country 20 times, transporting a total of €7,769,300. The 43-year-old was then arrested, who received a package from the 32-year-old on March 1, which allegedly contained money dropped by the occupants of the motorcycle.
As mitigating factors, the court took into account, among other things, the fact that she declared the money and that she is the mother of two minor children. The 32-year-old's lawyers are Maria Neophytou, Marinos Armeftis and Christos Charalambous.
* * * * * *
in-cyprus
A man caused serious damage to five employee vehicles with a crowbar at the Social Services Office in Agioi Anargyroi today, with the Sectoral Council of Social Services Officers of the Pancyprian Trade Union ISOTITA raising concerns over staff safety.
The union said it had been provided with information, along with photographic and video material, showing that a person being served at the office broke the windows of five employees’ vehicles with an iron crowbar.
Staff reportedly told him, according to the same information, that procedure requires him to find housing himself before the Service can step in to arrange a rent subsidy. However, according to the same information, the man went to the office today and began damaging employees’ vehicles with the crowbar.
Union says incident not isolated
The union said today’s incident was not an isolated case, adding that staff at Social Welfare Services offices have faced incidents of aggression, threats, intimidation and violence for years, recorded at various offices countrywide.
The council said it has repeatedly raised the issue of workplace safety, holding meetings, sending letters and submitting proposals, and that it had received assurances in the past that substantive protective measures would be taken.
Despite repeated warnings and previous commitments, the union said the safety issue remains essentially unresolved, with announced measures either not implemented or never completed, and no adequate progress made recently on a problem it said directly concerns the protection of human life.
The union said existing security systems at several offices are underperforming or not functioning at all, despite repeated flagging by staff, adding that colleagues, members of the public and security personnel continue to work and be served in places where protective measures remain inadequate.
The union said the issue concerns not only Social Services Officers but all staff, security guards and citizens who visit Social Services Offices daily for support, adding that safety and health at work are not optional and cannot be continually deferred, but are a fundamental employer obligation and a non-negotiable employee right.
Two-hour work stoppage held
In protest at what it called “the continuing inaction and the repeated incidents of violence,” employees at the Agioi Anargyroi Social Services Office held a two-hour work stoppage today, from 11am to 1pm.
The council called on the Directorate of Social Welfare Services and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare to immediately implement specific, effective and fully functional security measures at all Social Services Offices.
The union said it would not wait for an employee, member of the public or security guard to be injured before the seriousness of the problem is recognised, describing today’s incident as another warning.
Taking substantive safety measures must become an immediate priority, the union said, not another commitment that remains on paper.
