Filenews 28 July 2026
The 22-year-old from Sri Lanka, who stabbed his 33-year-old roommate 7 times in Aradippou in the early hours of last Monday, was referred to a direct trial before the Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca that will meet on October 15. The defendant will remain in custody until the start of his trial. As for the 33-year-old compatriot who was hospitalized in critical condition, according to information from the Police, his health condition has stabilized and has overcome the danger.
The defendant faces serious charges of attempted murder, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and injury.
The perpetrator and the victim lived in the same house in Aradippou. On the night of Sunday, July 19, they had gone with a third person to Livadia, Larnaca, and consumed quantities of alcoholic beverages. Thirty minutes after midnight, they returned home and started fighting outside, according to testimony obtained by the investigators of the Aradippou Police Station. The fierce fight continued inside the house, as a result of which the 22-year-old grabbed two knives from the kitchen and injured the 33-year-old in several parts of his body. Specifically, he allegedly stabbed him twice in the chest, three in the left arm, once in the abdomen and once in the right palm.
The injured man was transported by ambulance to the A&E of the Larnaca General Hospital and was then taken to the Nicosia General Hospital due to the seriousness of his condition. The 22-year-old had left the scene and was arrested two hours later by members of the Larnaca Police. During interrogation, he had stated that he and the victim are friends and that he is the person who injured him.
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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, sixteen persons were arrested, for various offences, including illegal possession of drugs, illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and illegal employment. During the night, 546 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 708 drivers and passengers were checked. At the same time, 36 inspections of premises were carried out, from which 1 complaint emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 282 complaints were made about various traffic violations, of which 80 concern driving at excessive speed. A total of 226 alcohol tests were carried out during which three drivers were found positive. Two drug tests were also carried out with two positive indications. Also, as part of the police examinations, 6 vehicles were detained.
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Unknown perpetrators removed from the chapel of Agios Georgios in Salami an old bronze candelabras of a boring type with a built-in safe. The theft is estimated to have been committed between July 15 and 25, while it is pointed out that the chapel remains open, as restoration and hagiography works are underway.
The theft has been reported to the Kouklia Police Station by the President of the Church Committee, Savvas Papadopoulos, who told "F" that this particular chapel had been the target of burglars in the past. About 20 years ago, he said, the historic sanctuary doors of the temple were stolen.
Fortunately, they had been photographed and recorded, which allows them to be continuously searched through the publication of their photos on specialized websites, catalogues of stolen ecclesiastical relics and international networks for the protection of cultural heritage, said Mr. Papadopoulos. Their publication continues to this day, so that, if they appear in a private collection, exhibition, gallery, art store or auction, they can be identified and the procedures for their claim and return can be initiated.
The authorities have also released photos of the stolen candelabras, so that it can be immediately recognized in case it is attempted to be sold or placed on the market of works of art or old ecclesiastical objects. At the same time, there is strong concern that the perpetrators may destroy or alter it, in order for it to be sold simply as bronze for recycling, which will lead to the permanent loss of another important ecclesiastical relic, stressed Savvas Papadopoulos.
This new incident, he pointed out, highlights the need for stricter control of the movement of metal objects. As he noted, metal dealers and recycling centers should be required to keep a detailed record of each purchase of metal objects, even when they have already been shredded or melted, fully recording the details of the seller and the origin of the material. Keeping such data will protect the professionals themselves from the risk of involvement in cases of trafficking in stolen goods, while it will also act as a deterrent to the disposal of stolen items, while facilitating the work of the prosecuting authorities.
The Ecclesiastical Committee warmly appeals to any citizen, collector, dealer of works of art or metal objects, who may recognize the candelabra or the stolen sanctuary doors, to immediately inform the ecclesiastical authorities or the Police. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can prove decisive for the identification and recovery of stolen ecclesiastical relics, contributing to the protection of our cultural and religious heritage, concluded Savvas Papadopoulos.
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An incredible collision, which was recorded on video, is under the microscope of the Limassol Traffic Police, after the serious traffic accident that occurred on Sunday night in the industrial area of Agios Sylas. A driver was injured in the collision, who was taken for treatment.
According to a video obtained by the Limassol Traffic Police, it appears that two vehicles were moving in the same area and were driving erratically and "fighting" with each other. When the two vehicles were in the same line and seem to have tried to move away from the scene, one of them collided with a Mazda vehicle, which was trying to enter this road.
The driver of the Mazda was injured in the accident, who suffered a broken arm and was kept for treatment.
According to information, the Limassol Traffic Police applied before a District Court for the issuance of an arrest warrant against the driver of the black vehicle allegedly involved in the collision. However, the request was not approved by the Court.
The Limassol Traffic Police continues the examinations to identify the drivers involved, take statements and collect evidence in relation to the incident.
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A well-known businessman in Larnaca was handcuffed early on Tuesday afternoon by the Police, since he is suspected of fraud against mainly foreign investors, who made complaints to the local TAE. He is a 62-year-old Greek Cypriot, resident of Larnaca.
According to police sources, the complaints are too many and have been made for a long time at the Larnaca Police Department, which is investigating the case. The suspect, who has been involved in land development businesses for years, is expected to appear before the Larnaca District Court tomorrow for the issuance of a detention order.
It is noted that this is a person who is used as a prosecution witness in naturalization cases.
According to the Police, he was arrested in connection with the following investigated offenses:
1. Conspiracy to commit a felony,
2. Extortion of money by false representations,
3. Preparation of Documents without Authority,
4. Forgery,
5. Circulation of a forged document,
6. Fraudulent transactions in real estate owned by another,
7. Fraud in the sale of property,
8. False Accounts for the purpose of defraud by a company director
9. Defrauding creditors,
10. Money Laundering, offenses committed during the years 2022 to 2024 in Larnaca.
Recently, in fact, as the Reporter website wrote, one of the foreign investors who denounces fraud against him, had requested the intervention of the President of the Republic himself and the Attorney General for the criminal prosecution of the businessman in question, who is a Greek Cypriot.
The Larnaca Police Department is examining the case.
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The Court of Appeal said "no" to the release of a rape defendant, which ruled that the complainant's allegations create a possibility of conviction, while his ties to the areas not controlled by the Republic make the risk that he will not appear at the trial real. The accused had been referred to trial before the Famagusta Criminal Court for rape, forced intercourse, indecent assault on a woman and sexual harassment.
The accused faces four charges concerning the same complainant and allegedly committed in the same place and time. Following his referral to trial, the Prosecution requested his detention until the start of the proceedings, citing a risk of evasion of justice. The court of first instance granted the request, a decision which the accused challenged before the Court of Appeal.
In his appeal, he argued that the court of first instance had incorrectly assessed the evidence and that there was not a sufficient chance of conviction to justify the risk of evasion of justice. At the same time, he invoked his personal circumstances and ties with the Republic of Cyprus, noting that he holds a Cypriot identity card.
The Court of Appeal rejected these claims, pointing out that at this stage of the proceedings the court does not assess the credibility of the testimony or decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused, but examines whether the evidence creates a possibility of conviction.
The appellate judges ruled that the defense isolated specific excerpts from the complainant's first testimony, overlooking the entirety of its content. As stated in the decision, the complainant testified that she had made it clear to the accused that she did not want any sexual act other than kissing, while she claimed that, when he proceeded with sexual intercourse, she tried to push him away by pushing him, without him stopping.
The Court of Appeal agreed with the judgment of the court of first instance that, based on all the witness material, there is a possibility of conviction, clarifying at the same time that this does not exclude the reasonable possibility of acquittal of the accused during the trial of the case.
In relation to the risk of evasion of justice, the Court held that the court of first instance had correctly weighed up all the relevant factors. Although the accused has Cypriot citizenship and certain ties to the free areas of the Republic, he resides permanently in the areas not controlled by the Republic and was expected to be employed from September 2026 as a teacher in occupied Famagusta.
The Court of Appeal underlined that the decision is not based on the accused's Turkish Cypriot origin, but on his strong ties with areas where the Authorities of the Republic cannot effectively exercise their powers, which makes it difficult to secure his presence in court in case he chooses not to appear.
Referring to the relevant case law, the Court pointed out that Cypriot citizenship alone is not sufficient to exclude the risk of evasion of justice, when there is objective evidence demonstrating strong links with areas outside the effective control of the Republic.
The Court of Appeal also ruled that the personal circumstances of the accused, such as his age, the completion of his studies and his imminent employment, are not sufficient to neutralize the existing risk of evasion of justice nor can they prevail over the public interest in the smooth administration of criminal justice.
In conclusion, the Court found that the District Court had correctly exercised its discretion and that there was no need to interfere with its decision. Therefore, the appeal was rejected and the accused will remain in custody until the trial of the case before the Criminal Court.
