There are more and more complaints and questions about the negligence shown by the competent state services in relation to what has been happening, at least in the last five years, in the Filanda complex in Larnaca. After the cry of despair of the legal tenants last Friday, the chairman of the Management Committee, Marios Fotiou, made new complaints talking about a gang of foreigners which illegally operates about 30 apartments, most of which belong to a company that has been in liquidation since 2014.
"There is a gang of foreigners who own around 30 apartments, which they rent to third parties, steal electricity and water, connect directly to meters through electrical cables that are exposed. We brought in crews last week and dismantled the illegal network, but at night they reconnected it and then I got a threatening phone call from a number with concealment. We unearthed it again and received new threatening phone calls for our lives so as not to turn on the currents again. Today (5/10) they made an illegal water connection again. We have a 60% water loss, which is borne by the legal residents. What they steal is paid for by us. Our information is that they charge tenants per capita, in addition to rents. He had a person who told us that in a month they charged him €100," Mr. Fotiou told Filenews. He also noted that there is no consent from the legal owners. "They invoke some alleged leases, which are illegal. I spoke to the director of the company that undertook the liquidation and he says that the company has nothing to do with it. They are emboldened and say 'we are not afraid of the Police and go to jail'".
Mr. Fotiou added that those who illegally occupied part of the complex "closed a space and turned it into a kindergarten for childcare", while in the past they had also created a barbershop. "The first floor had closed corridors, which we opened at a very high cost. However, we raised our hands after the threats. He must check the Welfare Office and the living conditions of these tenants. We have complaints that illegal immigrants are staying," he added, noting that out of the 5 blocks in two, the situation is uncontrollable.
Mr. Fotiou called for the immediate arrest and deportation of those involved in the apartment rental ring, noting that the lawyer of the legal tenants, Alexandros Clerides, has sent a letter to all the competent services asking for measures to be taken. "We have made complaints and we have given names. Unfortunately, we still have no response. The Police told us that they can't do anything, which I don't understand."
It is noted that the letter of the Management Committee, dated October 3, has been sent to the Minister of Justice and Public Order, the Chief of Police, the Deputy Minister of Immigration, the Director of the Immigration Department, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and the Director of Social Welfare Services, while it was communicated to the Larnaca Police Director, the Aliens and Immigration Service and the Larnaca District Welfare Office.
The letter states that, despite repeated complaints, the building continues to suffer from illegal occupation and use of apartments, illegal subleases, fraudulent electricity and water taking, dangerous illegal electrical connections, as well as conditions that endanger residents, including young children. The Management Committee asks the Police to carry out an on-site operation, identify the persons who own or use the affected units, investigate the alleged offenses and secure the witness material.
It is noted that a few weeks ago the apartment building in question was deemed dangerous by the EOA Larnaca and the Management Committee has hired a private researcher to take measures to remove the risk. It is recalled that on May 27, a foreigner lost his life and two others were injured when they jumped from the balconies of the apartment building to avoid being arrested, during an operation by the Aliens and Immigration Service.
