Thursday, October 15, 2026

CRIME ROUND UP

 Pafos Live 15/10



Eleven men, aged 19 to 24, were arrested today in the early hours of the morning by members of the Police in Limassol, after information about a fight in the area of Mesa Geitonia.

Specifically, around 1.20 a.m., information was received about a clash between a group of 10 – 15 people on Megalou Alexandrou Street.

Police patrols immediately went to the scene, where they found a number of people talking intensely, two of whom had blood on their faces.

During the intervention of the police, eleven persons, aged between 19 and 24, were arrested for the self-inflicted crime of illegal assembly.

The arrested were transferred to the Limassol Minor Offences Department, where checks were carried out on their identity and residence status.

The checks revealed that five of them were illegally residing in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and were also arrested for the crime of illegal stay.

Update - Filenews - Financial differences are said to be behind the bloody clash between a group of Pakistanis, which took place in the early hours of the morning in Mesa Geitonia, in Limassol. The Police proceeded to arrest 11 men, aged 19 to 24, while two persons were injured.

The inspections revealed that five of them resided illegally in the territory of the Republic and were also arrested for the crime of illegal stay.

The two injured are in custody at the Limassol Central Police Station.

According to the Assistant Police Director of Limassol, Lefteris Kyriacou, after the completion of the examinations, the case file will be forwarded to the Police Headquarters and then to the Legal Service for study and instructions. At the same time, suggestions will be submitted regarding the possibility of deportation of persons residing illegally in the Republic of Cyprus.

Police investigations are ongoing, with financial differences being considered as a possible motive behind the incident. According to information, financial differences and debts between the parties involved are allegedly behind the fight, with the debts being considered as a possible cause of the confrontation.

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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, 17 persons were arrested for various offenses, including illegal assembly, fighting, illegal stay in the Republic, illegal possession of drugs, failure to appear in court and driving under the influence of alcohol.

As part of these operations, during the night, 363 drivers and 100 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 21 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where a complaint arose.

During traffic checks carried out, 195 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while seven investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.

Of the complaints made, 31 concerned exceeding the speed limit, while as part of the police examinations, four vehicles were detained.

85 alcohol tests were carried out, from which three complaints emerged, as well as a preliminary drug test, with a positive result.

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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A 27-year-old man who supplied methamphetamine to four minors, whom he tried to recruit as associates in the sale of drugs to other children, will serve eight years in prison, as the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of the Attorney General for an increase in the sentence, ruling that the punishment imposed on him at first instance corresponds to the seriousness of the offenses.

In its unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal considered the case particularly serious, as the convicted person did not limit himself to repeatedly supplying drugs to minors, but attempted to recruit them as collaborators, with the aim of expanding sales to other children.

The man had been convicted, after admission, of possession of 0,08 grams of methamphetamine, as well as 13 cases of supplying unknown quantities of the substance to four minors. The Criminal Court imposed concurrent prison sentences, with the longest being eight years in prison.

According to the facts of the case, the investigation began in April 2022, when a minor asked for help to join a rehab program, stating that she had used methamphetamine in the previous months. The next day, her sister, also a minor, was taken to Limassol General Hospital with intense heartbeats. The tests showed that she was positive for methamphetamine and her hospitalization was deemed necessary.

The testimonies revealed that the convict repeatedly supplied the four children with the substance, while in some cases he gave it to them free of charge. He allegedly mentioned to one of the minors that he wanted to make her his partner, promising that they would earn a lot of money. On another occasion, when the minor was now addicted, he suggested that she find him new clients in exchange for unlimited amounts of methamphetamine.

This minor reported that she initially used about three times a week, while then the use reached three times a day. He eventually needed hospitalization and was then admitted to a rehabilitation program in Agia Skepi.

The accused was located by the Police on April 7, 2022, when he went on a motorcycle to the residence of the two brothers, following information that he was going to deliver drugs to them. He tried to escape when a police officer showed him his ID, but was stopped. The small amount of methamphetamine was found in his possession, while he initially gave false identity, using the name of his former roommate. He later revealed his real name and admitted in an interrogation statement that he had supplied methamphetamine to three of the minors.

The Attorney General argued in the appeal that the sentences were manifestly inadequate, taking into account the seriousness of the offences, the need to protect minors and the increased frequency of such cases. He also suggested that the Criminal Court attached undue weight to the mitigating factors.

The Court of Appeal, however, clarified that incidents included in charges, which were ultimately suspended by the Prosecution, could not be used as incriminating evidence. He emphasized that, after the admission of an accused, the facts taken into account for the determination of the sentence must be clearly stated and accepted by the defense. In the present case, the convicted person was found guilty of 13 cases of commission and not of all the incidents mentioned in the testimonies.

Despite this clarification, the judges underlined that the repeated supply of Class A drugs to children, combined with the attempt to recruit them, demonstrates premeditated criminal behavior. They also pointed out that the supply of drugs to minors is a particularly serious aggravating circumstance and that the perpetrator's personal circumstances have limited weight in cases of drug trafficking.

In conclusion, the Court of Appeal held that the increased seriousness of the offenses, due to the age of the victims and the consequences of the use, is adequately reflected in the sentences imposed. Therefore, he dismissed the appeal of the Attorney General and maintained the eight-year prison sentence.

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The terror is said to have been experienced in recent months by a woman in Limassol, who complained that her ex-partner and father of her child threatened to kill her, while in one of the incidents he allegedly attacked her with fists on the head. The woman, fearing for her life, appealed to the Police, with the 46-year-old being arrested and brought to justice.

The Limassol District Court today (14/10) approved the request of the investigators of the Limassol TAE and ordered the detention of the suspect for three days, in order to facilitate police investigations. He is being investigated, among other things, offenses related to written threats to kill, assault causing grievous bodily harm, threat, illegal entry, harassment and psychological violence.

According to the complaint submitted to the Family Violence Unit of TAE Limassol, the suspect allegedly did not accept their separation and in recent months, repeatedly bothered the woman, causing her intense upset and fear.

One of the incidents described by the complainant allegedly took place at the end of September. As she told the authorities, while she was on a night out, she received threatening messages from her ex-partner. When she returned to her house, she found him there. According to her allegations, the 46-year-old started harassing her and threatened to kill her. He then allegedly attacked her, pulling her by the hair and punching her in the back of the head. As a result of the attack, according to the complaint, the woman fell to the ground and became dizzy, while she suffered obvious injuries in various parts of her body.

After the incident, the woman filed a complaint with the Police, while reporting another incident, which allegedly took place about two months earlier. Then, as she complained, her ex-partner had threatened her again that he would kill her. She resorted to a formal complaint, claiming that she now fears that his threats will be put into practice.

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The Court of Appeal upheld the detention of a man until October 23, 2026, ruling that there is still a risk of evasion, despite his ties to Cyprus. At the same time, it annulled the part of the first instance decision that related to the risk of influencing witnesses, as it considered that there was insufficient evidence to justify such an assessment. The suspect faces a number of serious charges, including attempted murder of his partner, injury with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful deprivation of her liberty, assault causing actual bodily harm, threats to kill her on two occasions, as well as psychological violence. He is also accused of violence against the woman's minor child, as the attack allegedly took place in his presence. The charges will be examined by the Nicosia Criminal Court, while the appellant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was examined by the Court of Appeal, following an appeal by the suspect against the decision of the court of first instance to order his detention until his appearance before the Criminal Court, which was set for October 23, 2026. The Prosecution had requested his detention citing the risk of evasion of justice, the possibility of committing new offenses and the risk of influencing witnesses.

In support of his appeal, the suspect claimed, among other things, that he has been living in Cyprus for the last 24 years, since the age of five, that he attended schools and graduated from a high school in the country, while he speaks fluent Greek. He also stated that he works as a plumber and that his employer offered him an apartment in Nicosia, so that he could move from the residence where he lived with the complainant. According to the defense, if released from prison, he would return to work.

The defense also cited statements by the complainant in which she allegedly stated that she has no complaint against him, does not wish to prosecute him and does not intend to testify against him.

The Court of Appeal, however, held that these positions did not invalidate her initial claims, which were not withdrawn. As he notes in his unanimous decision, the issues concerning the complainant's attitude will be judged during the trial and could not determine the decision on detention at this stage.

The Court of Appeal held that the court of first instance correctly assessed the seriousness of the offences, the possible penalties in case of conviction and the likelihood of conviction, based on the available witness material. At the same time, it took into account the appellant's personal ties with Cyprus, concluding that these were not enough to eliminate the risk of him not appearing at his trial. He also underlined that the detention of a prisoner is an exceptional measure, starting from individual freedom, but personal circumstances must be taken into account with the seriousness of the case and the risk of not appearing in court.

On the contrary, the Court of Appeal accepted the ground of appeal, which concerned the risk of influencing witnesses. It found that, although the risk had been mentioned in the Prosecution's initial request, it had not substantially developed in its arguments before the Court of First Instance. The relevant reference was limited to the possibility that the complainant would receive threats so that she would not forward her complaint.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the probability of influencing witnesses must be based on specific facts and circumstances and not on general or theoretical assumptions. Neither the complainant's subsequent attitude nor the appellant's reported message, informing her that she had left the residence, were sufficient in themselves to establish such a risk. It therefore annulled that part of the first-instance decision.

The decision was unanimous, with Judges M. Abizas, St. Christodoulidou-Messiou and I. Stylianidou to reject the first ground of appeal and to uphold the detention due to the risk of evasion of justice, while they accepted the second ground, annulling the detention on the basis of the risk of influencing witnesses.

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Police arrested a 20-year-old man today in the province of Paphos, as part of the investigation of three cases of internet fraud.

Specifically, during the investigation of three complaints submitted to the Paphos Police Department and related to internet fraud (by sending an SMS) and the extortion of a sum of money over €19,500, testimony emerged against the 20-year-old who was arrested under a court warrant. He was then brought before the Paphos District Court, which issued an eight-day detention order against him.

It should be noted that the 20-year-old is in custody as part of the investigation of three other cases investigated by the Larnaca TAE and also concern internet fraud offenses (by sending an SMS) and the extortion of a sum of money over €7.000, for which he was arrested on 06/10/2026.

The cases are being investigated by the TAE of Larnaca and Paphos.

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A case of forgery of a rental contract, focusing on a residence in Ayia Fyla belonging to heirs who live abroad, is being investigated by the TAE Limassol, proceeding to a new arrest. The property allegedly came into the possession of other persons, using a rental contract that, as it seems, was forged.

After the arrest of a 49-year-old man from Lebanon, the authorities arrested a 42-year-old Greek Cypriot, who was brought before a Court today (14/10) and detained for six days. One more person is wanted for the case.

The heirs were informed through a real estate agent that other persons lived in their residence, without them having rented it or given their consent.

As Filenews is informed, the 49-year-old, in his testimony to the investigators, named the 42-year-old, claiming that she and another person visited him some time ago at his residence. According to his claim, after speaking on the phone with an unknown person, he was given three names to be included in a rental agreement. As he said, he drew up a rental contract on his computer, claiming that he acted on the instructions of the 42-year-old and the person wanted. In fact, according to his testimony, the wanted person told him that he had paid money to the owner of the house, with the intention of buying it in the past, however, he has died.

The 49-year-old admitted that he printed the rental contract and filled in the information dictated to him by a person who spoke Arabic over the phone. As he claimed, however, he did not proceed to indicate the address of the residence, claiming that the 42-year-old had asked him to do so. According to his claim, he signed the document as a witness, while the 42-year-old, who appeared as a tenant, and the wanted person left the residence having the agreement with them.

For her part, the 42-year-old, during her interrogation after her arrest, allegedly gave her own version of the events. According to her claims, at the beginning of 2026 she had asked a person from Lebanon to contact the owners of the house in order to arrange her rental.

As she mentioned, at a later stage she was contacted by the 49-year-old, who allegedly told her that he had spoken to one of the heirs, who lives in Kuwait, and that he had secured his consent to rent the property.

Several statements are expected to be taken in the case, while the authorities continue efforts to locate the wanted person. At the same time, investigations will be carried out to locate the document of the rental agreement, which is allegedly forged.

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With a recommendation for criminal prosecutions for a number of natural and legal persons, the voluminous file of the Police in relation to the defective Takata airbags, the two deaths and one driver injury and the subsequent handling of the matter was forwarded again.

According to information from "F", the investigative team of the TAE Police Headquarters has completed its investigations that lasted about 15 months and in its final conclusion it is making findings about the possibility of committing criminal offenses. The relevant file was forwarded again to the Legal Service only recently, after further examinations were carried out on the basis of instructions. Now the file will be given to a group of legal officers of the criminal sector of the Legal Service for study and submission of suggestions to the heads.

The investigation file covers the two deaths of young drivers from faulty airbags, as well as the injury of a third party, while at the same time what the Investigative Committee found in its conclusion regarding the handling of the matter by the competent Services and officials for 10 years was also investigated. The Investigative Unit blamed two former directors of the TOM and a number of other officials for disciplinary matters.

It is noted that the Traffic Police had initially investigated the two deaths of drivers from an airbag, as well as the injury of another and its findings were given to the investigators of the TAE Headquarters. The investigations were extended at some stage to overseas where information was requested from organizations as to who was responsible for informing owners about the defective Takata airbags. The main question that concerned the investigation concerned whether the owners of the vehicles involved were informed of their recall.

The Police investigation covered many issues and statements were taken from a large number of people, while in the end people were called to investigative statements.

It is noted that the first victim of a defective airbag was 24-year-old Kyriakos Oxynos, who was killed in a car accident on January 24, 2023. Nine months later, the police report concluded that his death was caused by the faulty Takata airbag carried by his vehicle. The second fatal accident happened 21 months later. 19-year-old Styliani Giorgalli lost her life on October 21, 2024, in a car accident. This was preceded by the case of Alexandros Lungos, who was seriously injured by an airbag explosion and needed several surgeries to repair the damage he suffered.