Pafos Live 19 August 2026
A serious incident took place last night in the Mottalos district in Paphos during which five food distributors were injured.
The Paphos Police Department is investigating offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, rioting, robbery, assault causing actual bodily harm, illegal possession and transport of an offensive weapon, common assault and malicious damage, which were committed last night in Paphos.
According to the data under examination, around 8.40 p.m., a 26-year-old food distributor went to the area of Muttalo, to deliver a food order. Upon arrival at the delivery point, an unknown man, who was accompanied by three other people, refused to pay the price of the order and then attacked the 26-year-old, throwing a stone at him.
The 26-year-old informed other distributors, who went to the scene, while at the same time, about ten unknown men arrived in the area, some of whom allegedly had metal objects in their possession. The unknown persons attacked the distributors, while at the same time throwing them to the ground and causing damage to their motorcycles.
Subsequently, four unknown persons left in their vehicle and headed to Mouttalos, where they met a 22-year-old delivery man, who had just completed the delivery of an order. Three of the unknown persons got out of the vehicle and after attacking him, they managed to take a sum of money and his mobile phone and then left the area in an unknown direction.
Five distributors were injured in the incident, who were transported by ambulance to Paphos General Hospital. After being examined by the doctor on duty, it was found that they had various injuries. Four were discharged, while one remained for further treatment.
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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 police operations, six persons were arrested for various offenses, such as forgery, illegal possession of drugs, illegal possession of property, illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, etc.
As part of these operations, during the night, 442 drivers and 225 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 41 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where six complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 258 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while five investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 126 driver complaints for exceeding the speed limit stand out, while as part of the police examinations, six vehicles were detained.
141 alcohol tests were carried out, from which three complaints emerged, while one case of driving under the influence of drugs also emerged, after a preliminary drug test.
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 investigations of the Famagusta Police Department, which continues to take statements, are in full swing, in an attempt to ascertain all aspects of the serious sea accident that resulted in the critical injury of a 48-year-old Greek Cypriot and the serious injury of his 7-year-old daughter. The 48-year-old continues to be treated in the ICU of the Nicosia General Hospital with his health condition characterized as extremely critical, according to the latest information from the Police. His 7-year-old daughter, who was seriously injured in the head, fortunately showed improvement and is being treated in stable condition at Makarios Hospital.
It is recalled that the accident happened in the Pernera area at noon last Saturday when, according to the Police, a jet ski, driven by a 17-year-old girl with an 18-year-old woman as a passenger, collided with a sofa-type inflatable, in which five people were riding, two men aged 48 and 43 and three minor children, aged 13, 11 and 7. The latter are members of the same family who used to spend their holidays in the area.
According to information from Filenews from police sources, the preliminary examinations show that the jet ski was rented to the 18-year-old and driven, without a relevant permit, by the 17-year-old. It is noted that according to the legislation, a jet ski boat is rented to people over 18 years old, regardless of whether they hold an operator's license or not. The only case where a 17-year-old person is allowed to drive a speedboat, however, is to hold an apprentice license and have a license holder on board, which does not seem to be the case in this case.
The two water sports companies involved in the accident are also under the microscope of the Police. The aim is to see if they complied with the provisions of the legislation for speedboats and their rental and especially if the former has co-signed a Binding Declaration, as provided by the Legislation.
The Deputy Ministry of Shipping is also assisting in the investigations, as the competent authority for the implementation of legislation and the granting of licenses to high-speed boat operators. As the deputy director of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Kyriakos Aliouris, explained to Filenews, despite the fact that last February the new revised legislative framework for boats was voted by the Parliament, it has not been implemented and for this reason the marine accident in Pernera will be examined based on the provisions of the previous legislation (the Speedboat Law), revised in 2020.
The essence does not change, however, since the same provisions apply in both legislation on the rental of jet ski boats to non-users of an operator's license. "In this case, the jet ski could be rented to the 18-year-old, undergo training and co-sign the Binding Declaration. The 17-year-old, however, under no circumstances should she drive it and this applies to both the existing legislation and the new one. The only exception would be to have a trainee license and be accompanied by a person who had a license," he noted.
What changes in the new legislation, according to Mr. Aliouris, is the fact that the use of boats is holistically regulated. "The existing legislation regulates only high-speed boats, while the new one regulates all motor yachts. With the existing legislation, there are two categories of boats: Category A, which are private speedboats, and Category B, which are rented boats. The new legislation concerns all yachts up to 24 meters and divides them into three categories," he noted, adding that time is needed for the implementation of the new legislation, since, among other things, Training Schools must be created.
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A well-known person to the authorities, whose name was linked to incidents that have been a major concern of the public debate in recent months and are related to Paphos issues, has been arrested and is in custody.
It is reported that his arrest was made following a complaint about a case of violence in the family. Already, the Paphos District Court, after examining a request from the Police, has reportedly issued a detention order for him.
According to journalistic information that has just come to light, a case will be registered in the Court next Friday.
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A football player with the status of a key prosecution witness in a serious forgery case is under deportation for reasons related to his residence permit on our island.
This is the 31-year-old Cameroonian midfielder Charles Eloundou, who served in football clubs such as Anorthosis, Nea Salamina and Ethnikos Achnas. In the previous 24 hours, the African was arrested because his residence permit in Cyprus, where he played until recently, is pending.
The issue is complex because the footballer in question has already agreed to play with a Cypriot team this season (ASIL Lysis), but also because he is a prosecution witness in a very important criminal case involving the club "P.O. Achyronas Onisilos".
At the moment, the 31-year-old is being held at the "Limnes" Pre-Removal Detention Center for Migrants, while the case has been registered with the Famagusta District Court and is set for a hearing on September 22, 2026.
"F" confirmed from a competent police source that the player is indeed being detained for a case that has to do with his residence status in Cyprus. However, according to the official information that our newspaper received from the police force, his status as a prosecution witness is a factor that will be taken into account when examining the case of the deported footballer.
For the case of Eloundos, the Pancyprian Footballers' Association (PASP) has been mobilized for several days. It has sent a letter requesting official information from the prosecuting authorities, and invoking its institutional role as a body representing and protecting the professional and labor rights of footballers in Cyprus.
The executive president of PASP, Spyros Neofytidis, speaking to our newspaper, referred to the aspects of the Eloundos case. "There is a basic aspect here," said Mr. Neofytidis and explained that "the player has already agreed with ASIL Lysis and the issue of renewing his residence permit is of a formal nature."
The president of the official trade union of footballers in Cyprus clarified: "Following the actions of PASP, a request was made for the re-issuance of a residence permit eight months ago. A request, which has not yet been examined. In addition, Eloundou is married to a French national."
Spyros Neofytidis added: "The second serious aspect of the whole issue has to do with the fact that Eloundou will testify in a very serious case concerning possible serial forgery against professional footballers. Eloudou is a key witness for the prosecution and if he does not testify under oath in the Court, then the administration of justice will not be served, either by acquittal or by a possible conviction."
We remind you that on February 13, 2025, after a coordinated operation by the Anti-Intellectual Property and Illegal Betting Branch (KAPIPS) under the Electronic Crime Sub-Directorate of the Police, search and arrest warrants were executed against three persons related to the "P.O. Barn Onisilos". They were two high-ranking managers, as well as a person who acts as an agent of football players. What had been reported and brought before the Police, brought the administrative executives in question to have possible involvement in the conclusion of contracts, in an illegal way.
Information published at the time stated that the contracts submitted to the Cyprus Football Federation were not related to the actual agreement made between the club and the players.
From the police examinations at the time, it had emerged that at least one of the contracts was possibly forged, without the knowledge of the footballer.
The Police were then investigating a case of forgery, circulation of a forged document and conspiracy to commit a felony.
