Filenews 3 July 2026
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, 8 persons were arrested for various offenses, such as theft from an employee, illegal stay in the Republic, carrying knives, illegal possession of drugs, assault on a police officer, etc.
As part of these operations, during the night, 629 drivers and 131 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 44 inspections were carried out in premises with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, during which six complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 295 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 6 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 83 driver complaints for exceeding the speed limit stand out, while as part of the police examinations, 4 vehicles were detained. 95 alcohol tests were carried out, from which 3 complaints emerged.
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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The Police proceeded yesterday afternoon to arrest a 46-year-old man, who was wanted to facilitate investigations into an investigated case of home burglary and theft, committed in Limassol.
Specifically, on 26/06/2026, according to a complaint made to the Police by an 89-year-old woman, an unknown person broke into her house during the morning hours and took property with a total value of €45,000.
As part of the investigation of the case, testimony was secured against a 46-year-old man, who was arrested on the basis of a court warrant, by members of the Limassol OPE.
The arrested person was brought before the Limassol District Court today, which issued a detention order for him for a period of five days.
The TAE Limassol continues the examinations.
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A new case of fraud and extortion of money via the internet is being investigated by the TAE Nicosia, following a complaint filed today.
According to the complaint, an 83-year-old woman received a call yesterday from a phone number of a European country, according to which an unknown person introduced herself as an operator of an online financial transaction and payment platform. The latter, under false pretexts, persuaded the 83-year-old to report her bank account details to him, as a result of which he then found that a sum of money in excess of €127,000 had been extracted from her account.
The Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Nicosia Police Department is investigating the case.
On the occasion of the above complaint, the Police recommends special attention to the public, pointing out that providing other persons with access to electronic devices, as well as access to online accounts, should be avoided, while personal and bank account information should be protected and never disclosed.
Citizens are urged, as always, to carry out a check to verify any calls or messages they receive. Such control and verification should be done through the official and notified communication channels of the organizations involved.
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Shortly after midnight, members of the Police who were on patrol in Ayia Napa found two men, one of whom was holding a stick and the second a bottle and who were causing concern.
During a conversation between the members of the Police and the two persons, one of them, who seemed to be in a state of intoxication, attacked a member of the Police, pushing him, as a result of which he was arrested for flagrante delicto.
Both persons were arrested for the self-inflicted crime of possession of offensive instruments.
They are expected to appear before the Court today for immediate registration of the case.
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The 30-year-old from Bulgaria, father of the two unfortunate boys, aged 8 and 10, who were found dead in a car on Sunday afternoon, is facing two serious charges, for causing death due to a reckless behaviour and reckless act. The 30-year-old was referred to trial at noon on Thursday by the Court of Dhekelia, with the next hearing set for July 16.
It is recalled that the children were left unsupervised, since the father rushed to work in Limassol on Sunday morning, while his 38-year-old partner, who was initially arrested, did the same, however, she was released unconditionally on Wednesday. The father, as heard in Court, allegedly went to work in Limassol at 4:30am on the morning of Sunday, July 28 and returned to his apartment in Xylofagou, after the children from his cohabitation were found dead.
Based on the findings of the investigations of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), it was decided that he should be charged with a stricter charge, since testimony shows him not to return home after he went to work on Sunday, but went to another place, in which he remained for a period that was not reported to the Court. The testimony was revealed by the representative of the prosecution, requesting the further detention of the father.
In particular, he said that there is testimony that after work he goes to buy alcohol. "According to what was established through CCTV, if he went home this tragedy could have been prevented," said the spokesman for the prosecution, who said that the main reason for his detention is the risk of evasion of justice.
This position was disputed, however, by his lawyer, Adriana Klaidi, who argued that the father left at 5:30am and that the children were not left unattended, since his brother was in the area and he systematically went and saw them.
Ms. Klaidi stated that her client denies all the charges brought against him and objected to his detention. His lawyer cited his clean criminal record, as well as the fact that his brothers and cousin work in Cyprus.
He also asked that he be released and that restrictive conditions be imposed on him. "He is living through a tragedy, his babies have died. I think he should be released on bail," said Ms. Kleidi.
Her request was denied by the Judge, Carl Gunsley, who ruled that the defendant should remain in custody until the start of the court proceedings. "It's a terrible tragedy. But such is the seriousness of the offenses that we must ensure that he does not escape," Mr. Gunsley noted.
After the end of the proceedings, Ms. Klaidis noted that "the Court ruled that the accused does not have satisfactory ties with the British Dhekelia Bases, which is why it decided to detain him until the next hearing, which was set for July 16 at 9:00 in the morning, where the case will be dealt with by a Senior Judge who will come from England".
When asked about what her client's condition is, she said that "he is in a very bad psychological state. Unfortunately, due to this decision he will not be able to travel to Bulgaria to attend the funeral of his children," she noted.
The chronicle of the horrible tragedy
The Police of the British Bases estimate that they now have a picture of what happened last Sunday afternoon. Most of the answers were given by the closed-circuit surveillance camera, which is activated through movement.
According to competent sources, this camera shows at 12:10pm the children playing in the yard and around 2:30pm getting into the car. It is noted that the children were found unconscious in the back seat by their stepmother after 5:30pm.
The children seem to have managed to enter the car, which was parked in the open area of the apartment building where they lived, through an open door in the back. As revealed by filenews, expert examinations showed damage to the specific door, which remained unlocked, despite the fact that the car was locked. It then seems that they locked themselves in the car and were trapped in it, since the child lock was also activated.
What still remains open are the causes of death, which will be ascertained after the end of the scientific examinations on samples taken from the bodies of the children. The bodies will be transported to Bulgaria at the expense of the Cypriot state.
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One by one, the pieces of the puzzle surrounding the attempted murder of a 46-year-old woman, the wife of a 55-year-old police officer, who ended his life on Tuesday morning outside the Lyceum of Agios Spyridon in Zakaki, are being attempted by the investigators of the TAE Limassol, in an attempt to clarify the exact motive and circumstances behind the tragic case.
At the same time, the 46-year-old is still hospitalized in critical condition in a private hospital in Limassol, after the attempted murder against her, a case that has shocked public opinion and is under the microscope of the authorities. Investigators expect her condition to improve so that a testimony can be taken, which is expected to shed light on critical questions that remain unanswered.
At the same time, the analysis of material from closed surveillance circuits is underway, as well as the evaluation of testimonies from persons who knew the couple.
For its part, the Police emphasizes that the case is under a full and thorough criminal investigation, noting that any public position on the events would be premature and could affect the investigative work.
As he states in an announcement the day before yesterday, there will be no further comment until the completion of the investigations, while he emphasizes that only through the full investigation will all the real data be established.
At the same time, the Police notes that it has an institutionalized Human Resources Support Branch with registered psychologists, which provides psychological support and implements prevention and education programs.
In the meantime, the issue of institutional strengthening of the mechanisms for the evaluation and support of members of the Police is being raised in the public debate, especially in relation to the carrying of weapons.
The vice-president of the Cyprus Psychologists Association, Stella Katsari, stressed the need for a clear framework of continuous evaluation and psychological support, which will function as a mechanism for prevention and institutional accountability.
As he mentioned, systematic individual and group psychological support is particularly important for departments that come into contact with vulnerable populations or are exposed to traumatic incidents and aggravating material.
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At 03:53, a call was received for a fire in a store on the ground floor of a hotel, in Germasogeia, Limassol district.
The Agios Nikolaos Fire Station responded with two fire trucks and the fire was brought under control at 04:15.
The members of the Fire Service provided assistance to one person to safely exit the store, while a second person had already left the area before their arrival at the scene.
As a result of the fire and heat, the contents of the store were affected, as well as part of the interior paint of its masonry. The causes of the fire are being investigated, in cooperation with the Competent Authorities.
The Limassol Police Department is investigating a case of arson.
The scene was cordoned off for examinations.
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The investigations of the Limassol Police Department into the arson of a massage parlour in Germasogeia are in full swing, with investigators focusing on identifying the perpetrators and the motives for the attack.
The fire broke out shortly after 4 in the morning in a property housed on the ground floor of an apartment building. Members of the Police and the Fire Service immediately rushed to the scene, who brought the fire under control and cordoned off the scene for scientific examinations.
At the time of the fire, there were two people inside the premises, who managed to get out without being injured.
Preliminary examinations revealed that the fire caused limited damage to the glass façade and the interior of the premises, however the circumstances under which it broke out lead the authorities to investigate a case of arson.
According to information from Filenews, the property belongs to a British citizen, who, according to his testimony, stated that he does not suspect any person, nor does he have differences with anyone.
A number of items were received from the scene for scientific examinations, while investigators are looking for material from closed circuits of surveillance in the area, in an attempt to identify the movements of the perpetrators before and after the arson.
The examinations of the Limassol Police Department continue at an intensive pace, with the aim of identifying and arresting those involved, as well as clarifying the motives behind the arson attack.
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As part of the ongoing actions of the Anti-Narcotics Service (YKAN) to identify and seize narcotic substances that are being or are attempted to be imported into the Republic of Cyprus, targeted operations were carried out yesterday in the provinces of Larnaca and Limassol. To facilitate the investigations, three persons were arrested and taken into custody.
Yesterday afternoon, members of YKAN, after evaluating information, conducted a search at the home of a 28-year-old man in Larnaca. During it, a sum of €19,960, a quantity of cannabis with a gross weight of 20 grams, two handmade cigarettes containing cannabis, cannabis resin with a gross weight of 30 grams, two pieces of paper containing a solid substance with a gross weight of 26 grams, 25 ampoules with an unknown liquid substance, a quantity of an unknown crystalline substance, a quantity of an unknown solid substance and a precision scale were located and confiscated. The 28-year-old was arrested and taken into custody to facilitate investigations.
In the second case, in the province of Limassol, members of YKAN, after evaluating information, located and arrested yesterday two persons aged 22 and 28 for the crime of illegal possession of drugs for the purpose of supplying to another person. Specifically, around 8.50 p.m. the members of YKAN spotted a 28-year-old man approaching a spot in an open area in Limassol and picking up a bag from the ground which the 22-year-old seems to have left there earlier. The 28-year-old was stopped for a check and during a subsequent search, a sum of €3,920 was found in his possession and confiscated, while in the bag in question, a quantity of cocaine with a gross weight of 23 grams and cannabis with a gross weight of 140 grams was found and confiscated. In a search of the above open space, a bag containing a quantity of cocaine with a gross weight of 45 grams was also located and confiscated.
The arrested are expected to be brought before the courts today for the issuance of detention orders.
The Ministry of Environment and Humanities is investigating the two cases.
YKAN continues its operations with the aim of preventing and informing young people and protecting them from the serious consequences of both drug use and trafficking.
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Cy Mail
A man serving a 35-year prison sentence for multiple attempted murders and rape has received a presidential pardon and suspension of his sentence, allowing for his release after serving around six years in custody, it was reported on Friday.
Charalambos Chrysanthou, widely known as Hamburger, had been sentenced by both the Larnaca and Famagusta permanent criminal courts in July 2020 after admitting to 24 charges arising from two separate attempted murder cases in Larnaca and Ayia Napa.
His early release is part of the witness protection programme operated by the drugs squad (Ykan), under which convicted offenders may receive sentence reductions or suspensions in exchange for providing evidence against co-defendants in criminal proceedings.
Chrysanthou was previously sentenced for offences that included conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, illegal possession and transportation of firearms as well as drug offences.
He had previously been sentenced two months earlier to five years imprisonment for the rape and assault of a woman in Paphos.
The pardon was granted with the consent of attorney-general George Savvides and his deputy Savvas Angelides.
As part of the conditions attached to the suspension of his sentence, Chrysanthou was required to leave Cyprus by July 1 and is prohibited from returning until 2040.
Without the suspension, his prison term would have expired in 2055.
One case concerned the attempted murder of Constantinos Charalambous, known as ‘Mavros’, in Larnaca on November 27, 2019.
The second related to a shooting at a café in Ayia Napa on February 16, 2020, in which a businessman was allegedly targeted while four patrons were injured.
In its sentencing, the criminal court described the offences as displaying “a devastating and inconceivably provocative disrespect for human life”.
The judge said the absence of fatalities was “solely due to the good fortune of the victims”.
Referring to the Ayia Napa shooting, the court said the defendant acted “ruthlessly”, firing “indiscriminately at people who were sitting carefree in the cafeteria”, despite realising that his intended target was not present.
In relation to the Larnaca attack, the court found he had acted “with persistence, dedication and brutality”, repeatedly shooting at the victim under conditions of surprise.
The sentencing judgement also referred to Chrysanthou’s previous convictions.
In May 2020, the Paphos criminal court sentenced him to concurrent prison terms of five and two years for rape and assault causing grievous bodily harm.
The judgement stated he physically assaulted the complainant before forcing her to have sexual intercourse against her will while threatening her and telling her, “You know who I am, I did 17 years in prison”.
The court also recorded an earlier conviction in Greece, where the Thessaloniki appeals court imposed a ten-year prison sentence and a €100,000 fine in 2015 for a drugs offence before his release in 2016.
Speaking to Alpha on Friday, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou explained that Chrysanthou’s pardon was well established by legal precedence/
“It is a practice that is common not only in Cyprus, but internationally as well,” he said.
“At the end of the day you choose the lesser evil.”
The legal service has likewise defended the decision, stressing that the presidential pardon granted to Chrysanthou does not amount to an acquittal or the erasure of his convictions.
It said the measure was taken under the president’s constitutional powers with the agreement of both Savvides and Angelides, with the measure being applied only in exceptional circumstances.
It explained that such decisions take into account factors including cooperation with authorities as well as the protection of witnesses and their families.
The service said Chrysanthou joined the witness protection programme following his conviction, in order to provide testimony in serious criminal cases regarding organised syndicates he had knowledge of.
It added that the scheme exists to enable cooperation from individuals involved in criminal activity while ensuring protection for them and their relatives, and that relocation abroad can form part of such arrangements.
The legal service further stated that any breach of the pardon conditions would automatically reactivate the original prison sentence.
The police has once again released photographs of three Palestinian children missing following a court of appeals decision to overturn a district court ruling and to order that their 46-year-old father and two adult siblings be remanded in custody, as they face 122 charges of violence and abuse.
The appeals court announced on Friday that it had accepted the appeal of the attorney-general, ruling that the court of first instance had wrongly released the defendants on bail, as there was a real risk they could have absconded, influenced witnesses or reoffended.
The court said that although the defendants had been living in Cyprus for 20 years as refugees, had been working and held a clear criminal record, these elements were not sufficient to outweigh the severity of the case.
They will now remain in custody until their trial on July 16 before the Famagusta criminal court.
The crimes are said to have been committed from 2013 until May 2026. They include systematic physical and psychological abuse, child abuse, kidnapping, indecent assault, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault of a child, causing grievous bodily harm, threats and humiliation.
A Cypriot naval cadet studying at Greece’s Naval Non-Commissioned Officers School (Smyn) is under investigation following allegations that he filmed inside women’s bathrooms at the military academy, according to Greek military news website Armyvoice.gr.
The incident came to light on June 9 and has since been referred to the Piraeus Naval Court.
According to sources the cadet placed his phone through a small window and tried to record inside female bathroom facilities.
The allegations caused concern among female cadets at the school and triggered an investigation by the relevant military and judicial authorities. A sworn administrative inquiry was ordered into the incident.
The Cyprus Defence ministry confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that “it is aware of the case and is awaiting the completion of the disciplinary and judicial procedures.”
As part of the administrative investigation, statements were taken from only two individuals, a second-year female cadet linked to the complaint and the third-year cadet alleged to have been involved.
