Fileenws 12/11
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, eleven persons were arrested for various offenses such as burglary and illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
As part of these operations, during the night, 383 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 536 persons on board were checked. At the same time, inspections were carried out in 22 premises with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, without any complaints arising.
During traffic checks carried out, 199 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 5 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 93 concerned exceeding the speed limit, while as part of the police examinations, 4 vehicles were detained.
127 alcohol tests were performed, with a negative result, as well as 2 preliminary drug tests, also with a negative 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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The decision of the Court of Nicosia was issued yesterday in a high-profile drug case that concerned the public opinion in November 2023 and concerned the discovery of sheets of paper impregnated with drugs in the possession of a prison guard of the Central Prisons.
The case had arisen after an operation by the Anti-Drug Service (YKAN) in Nicosia, during which the drugs in question had been identified, resulting in the investigation of the case and the involvement of more persons, including a convict of the Central Prison.
With yesterday's decision, the Court found both the prison guard and his co-defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, in all the charges they faced, both the prison guard and his co-defendant. On the contrary, the convict was found innocent and acquitted of all the charges he faced.
The defense of the convict was undertaken by the lawyer Elias Satolias, who represented the acquitted before the Court.
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The Police arrested a 31-year-old man yesterday, pursuant to a court warrant, as part of an investigation into a case involving the possession of killed wild birds and illegal keeping of game in captivity.
Specifically, members of the Deryneia Police Station, in cooperation with officials of the Game Service,carried out a search, by virtue of a court order, in a fenced piece of land and a farmhouse owned by the 31-year-old.
During the investigation, a total of 108 wild birds were found in a freezer, packed in plastic containers. At the same time, seven hares were found in captivity in a fenced area.
The 31-year-old was arrested for the spontaneous offenses of possession, preservation and retention of game in captivitywithout the relevant permission from the head of the Game Fund. The seven hares and 108 wild birds were handed over to the Game Service.
The 31-year-old was interrogated in writing and then released, while an out-of-court fine is expected to be issued by the Game Service.
The Deryneia Police Station continues the examinations.
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The Police arrested three more persons, as part of the investigation of a case concerning, among other things, offenses of carrying weapons to incite terror, and malicious damage to property, committed on November 06, in Nicosia.
These are two 20-year-old men and a 21-year-old man, who were arrested by members of the Police, on the basis of court warrants, on November 10. Yesterday, November 11, a five-day detention order was issued by the Nicosia District Court for the purpose of police examinations.
For the same case, two other men aged 20 were arrested and are in eight-day detention.
The case is being investigated by the Nicosia Central Police Station.
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The Police arrested four persons in the early hours of this morning, as part of an investigation into a case of illegal possession of burglary tools and burglary with the intention of theft. They are a 20-year-old, two 23-year-olds and a 24-year-old.
Specifically, around 2.00 a.m. today, information was received about a burglary of the offices of a company housed in an apartment building in Limassol.
Members of the Police immediately went to the scene, where they located the owner of the offices, while there was also a vehicle at the scene in which the four persons were riding, who allegedly admitted to breaking into the offices with the intention of stealing. From the inspection that followed, burglary tools were found in their possession, for which they did not give satisfactory explanations regarding their possession.
The four suspects were arrested for flagrante delicto offenses and taken into custody for the purpose of investigating the case.
The TAE Limassol continues the examinations.
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A 17-year-old man who was wanted as part of the investigation of a case of conspiracy to commit a felony, and causing grievous bodily harm, committed on 04/11/2026, in the province of Paphos, was located and arrested.
The 17-year-old was arrested today 11/11/2026, by members of the Paphos Police Department, on the basis of a court warrant, for the purpose of investigating the case.
Two other persons, aged 28 and 22 respectively, were arrested on 05 and 06/11/2026 for the case.
The Paphos TAE continues the examinations.
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The Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol, after a closed-door hearing, found a 25-year-old foreigner guilty of a case of sexual abuse of a minor, as well as of offenses related to the supply of cocaine and cannabis to a 16-year-old student. The case was set for facts and sentencing at a later date.
The case came to light at the end of October 2024, when the 16-year-old was found unconscious in a square in the center of Limassol, after consuming alcohol and other substances. The minor was transported by ambulance to the Limassol Hospital, where she was given first aid. From the blood tests carried out, it was found that there were traces of cocaine and cannabis in her body, which mobilized the authorities.
As filenews had revealed in a previous report, the 16-year-old had gone out with her friends in the area of the center of Limassol. After consuming alcohol, drugs and pills, he began to feel unwell and decided to leave. However, a little later he was found unconscious in a square in the area and taken to the hospital. After regaining consciousness, the minor named the young man as the last person she had met before she lost consciousness. According to her testimony, the accused had offered her cocaine, without her remembering if she used it.
At the same time, she claimed that the accused sexually exploited her, while she stated that in the past he had obtained small quantities of drugs from him, on two different occasions. Following the complaint and the information obtained by the authorities, members of YKAN Limassol, in collaboration with the Investigation Branch of Sexual Abuse of Minors of the Police Headquarters, proceeded to arrest the 25-year-old.
The case was brought before the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol, which, after the completion of the hearing, found him guilty. Now, the next day has been set for events and the imposition of the sentence.
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A total of 211 boxes of duty-free cigarettes and heated cigarettes, as well as five and a half kilos of cigarette smoke, were found and confiscated by members of the Police in Limassol, specifically by members of the Limassol OPE.
The tobacco products were found in the possession of a 64-year-old man, who was arrested by the members of the Police and subsequently, an out-of-court notice of payment of a sum of 16,500 euros was issued to him.
On the basis of information of the Limassol OPE, which concerned the illegal possession and trade of duty-free tobacco products, shortly before 11.00 a.m. today, members of the OPE stopped the 64-year-old, who was traveling in a van-type vehicle, in an area in Limassol. A search of the 64-year-old's car followed, in which the following were found and confiscated:
- 113 boxes with a total of 1,130 packs of heated cigarettes
- 98 boxes with a total of 980 packs of cigarettes
- Five kilograms and 550 grams of tobacco for handmade cigarettes
After it was found that these were duty-free tobacco products, the members of the Police proceeded to arrest the 64-year-old. He was taken to the offices of the Customs Department in Limassol, for examinations within the framework of the Department's responsibilities.
Officials of the Customs Department issued the 64-year-old an out-of-court notice of payment of €16,500 for the possession of the found duty-free products. The 64-year-old paid the out-of-court settlement and was released, while the tobacco products were confiscated by the Customs Department.
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Yesterday's investigations at the "Kakoskali" location of Akamas to locate the lethal instrument that fatally injured the 51-year-old Briton on Monday afternoon were completed without result.
The searches were carried out today in a large area of the peninsula, after the voluntary testimony given after his arrest by the 20-year-old son of the victim's 42-year-old partner and in which he claimed that the knife with which he fatally injured the 51-year-old was thrown the same night at a point in the "Kakoskali" area in Akamas.
The version of the throwing of the deadly instrument in the specific area was reinforced today by his 35-year-old girlfriend, as reported in the court where she was brought in, stating that she and the 20-year-old went to Akamas on the night of the murder to get rid of the deadly instrument. The 35-year-old, however, differentiated the 20-year-old's claims, claiming that during the disputed period inside the house of the 51-year-old and the 42-year-old, both men were holding knives and that they both threw them in the "Kakoskali" area.
Field investigations, however, did not bear fruit and are expected to continue from this morning, covering a larger radius on the peninsula.
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A British soldier is facing charges of raping a woman serving in the British armed forces in Cyprus.
The corporal, who serves in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also known as the Highlanders, was charged on October 23 with a rape offence, according to the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC).
The soldier was arrested on October 19, two days after the DSCC was informed of the alleged rape of a woman serving in the British Forces Cyprus, which is part of the armed forces serving at the British Bases.
He was taken into custody pending trial by a court-martial.
The indictment followed an investigation by the DSCC's Serious Crimes Investigation Team, which independently investigates serious offences committed by persons subject to military law, both in the UK and abroad.
A British Army spokesman said:
"We confirm that the corporal (...) was charged on October 23, 2026 with an offence of rape, in violation of section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2006, following an investigation by the Serious Defence Crimes Administration.
"There is no place for criminal behavior in the army and we recognize the great courage required to proceed to report an offense.
"Anyone convicted of a sexual offense will be removed from the ranks of the armed forces."
The United Kingdom retained two major sovereign military bases in southern and southeastern Cyprus, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, under the 1960 Treaty, which established the independence of the Republic of Cyprus and ended British colonialism on the island.
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He was appointed by a citizen in Paphos to handle the financial differences he had with his ex-wife and eventually left him exposed. The reason for a lawyer who the Disciplinary Council on November 9 revoked his license to practice for a year.
This unprecedented case was heard by the Disciplinary Court after a complaint by a citizen from Paphos that his lawyer acted against his interests. The lawyer in question faced eight charges which he eventually admitted in their entirety.
Essentially, he is being sued because, while he is a lawyer, he demonstrated shameful, fraudulent and incompatible conduct and behavior towards the profession of lawyer, since during/or around 10/06/2021, the date on which the complainant's Application for Property Disputes was set before the Paphos Family Court, he proceeded to withdraw it without harm, without receiving instructions and/or informing the complainant.
His client became aware of this development after his own investigation, with the result that his claim was already time-barred and that he suffered substantial damage since he did not have the opportunity to take measures to defend his rights.
The explanation given by the defendant for this action is that he considered that the complainant could not prove his claim. The Disciplinary Court ruled in its decision that this does not justify its action and cannot be accepted as an essential mitigating factor. On the contrary, it shows that the defendant acted decisively for the outcome of the case, relying on his own assessment, without obtaining the participation and consent of the person whose rights he had entrusted to protect.
"We attach particular importance to the fact that the complainant was informed of the withdrawal of his application only during the last two months of 2023, following his own research. The failure to inform him in time deprived him of the opportunity to assess the situation in a timely manner and take appropriate measures to defend his interests", notes the Disciplinary Committee.
He was also accused of failing to register with the Paphos District Cadastral Office, the interim order issued on 15/02/2019 by the Paphos Family Court for the benefit of the applicant in the context of the Property Disputes Application, which prohibited his ex-wife from alienating and/or transferring her share in a specific house in a village in Paphos.
The worst of all, however, was that while he was representing his client, he was employed by the law firm that represented the ex-wife of the defendant in the Paphos Family Court, without disclosing this fact to the complainant and without declaring to him that there was an impediment to the continuation of his representation.
As a result, the applicant and the former spouse were represented by the same law firm, thus violating his obligation not to act as an adviser or representative or lawyer of more than one client in the same case, if there is a conflict of interest of these clients or a serious risk of such a conflict.
According to the three members of the Disciplinary Council of Advocates, the defendant should at least have informed the complainant of the change in his professional conditions and of the impediment that arose in terms of the continuation of his representation, taking the necessary measures to comply with his ethical obligations. Its failure to do so constitutes a serious breach of professional ethics in its own right, irrespective of whether any specific use of confidential information has been proven.
Following these findings, the complainant proceeded in 2024 to file a lawsuit against the accused lawyer and a consensual decision was issued ordering the lawyer to pay his former client €78,000 for the damage he suffered.
The Disciplinary Council of Lawyers, after considering that the citizen who entrusts a lawyer to defend his rights justifiably expects the latter to act with honesty, diligence, independence, conscientiousness and with the sole aim of the legal protection of his interests, concluded that the arbitrary withdrawal of a judicial process without prior notice or instructions of the client, combined with the failure to disclose the serious risk of conflict of interest and the inadequate protection of his financial interests, constitutes conduct incompatible with the fundamental requirements of the legal profession.
Eventually, he revoked his license to practice for a year.
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Members of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (D.A.O.E.) - YKAN, in cooperation with the Customs Authorities, proceeded today to locate and confiscate a quantity of cannabis, weighing about 22.5 kg.
Following the evaluation of relevant information by D.A.O.E. - YKAN, the 27-year-old was stopped for a check this morning, at Larnaca Airport.
This is a Briton who arrived on a flight from Bagonk via Doha.
During the inspection of his travel bag, 42 nylon packages were found, which contained cannabis with a total weight of about 22.5 kilograms.
The 27-year-old was arrested for the spontaneous offenses of illegal importation, illegal possession and possession of narcotic substances for the purpose of supplying to other persons.
The examinations continue by D.A.O.E. – YKAN.
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The red notices for the two persons who are in Dubai and are allegedly linked to the case of the death contract against Giorgos Xiourouppas are on track to be issued, with the relevant procedures, according to information from "F", expected to be completed within the next few days.
The testimony of the 36-year-old Bulgarian, a former employee of Xiouruppa, who was allegedly selected to carry out the businessman's murder plan, in exchange for a monetary reward for his daughter and ensuring legal residence in Cyprus, is considered key to the investigations. In fact, according to what he allegedly told the investigators, the first wanted man tried to bend his misgivings, assuring him that "the Police were theirs".
They promised him the sky with the stars - "The police are worried about us"
According to our information, the first wanted man allegedly contacted the 36-year-old, announcing to him that he would need him for a serious "job". At the same time, he told him not to stress, claiming that "the Police were theirs" and that he would make sure that his residence documents were arranged.
The next night, based on the same information, via video call, the first wanted man put him in contact with the second wanted person, who, allegedly, told him that, "you have to do a job, which then you will be very happy, because we will send money to your daughter and we will arrange for you to be legal and you will have everything in Cyprus".
The mission he was allegedly assigned was to place an explosive device in Xiurouppa's vehicle to eliminate him. The firing would be done by remote control, when the businessman would be inside the car, outside a nightclub or hotel in Limassol.
According to the same information, the 36-year-old initially allegedly accepted the mission for a fee, while in his later testimony, he allegedly claimed that he did not want to proceed with the murder of Xiouruppa.
They entrusted the execution of Xiouruppa to someone who saw him as his child
Xiourouppas knew the 36-year-old from a young age and had developed close ties with him, to the extent that he considered him his child. The former employee allegedly knew his habits and movements, while he allegedly also had access to his vehicle.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Bulgarian had been deported from Cyprus in 2014 and when asked by investigators how he found himself back on the island, he reportedly said that he returned in April 2026, first traveling to Turkey and then passing from the occupied territories to the free areas.
When the 36-year-old came to Cyprus again, he allegedly met again with Xiourouppas in Limassol and started working in his nightclub. Later he worked for the first wanted man.
The 36-year-old claimed that the first wanted man sent him, via Revolut, remittances totaling 15.400 USDT, i.e. about €13.870, in cryptocurrencies, while handing him an additional €2.000 to €3.000 in cash. When he asked why he gave him the money, the wanted man allegedly replied that he wanted to stay in Cyprus and if he needed him he would contact him.
The 36-year-old, according to police sources, claimed that, despite the pressure, he did not want to implement the plan and tried to contact Xiourouppa. In fact, according to information, during his arrest, he said: "I would never do that for George."
The Range Rover that got him back
According to information, the 36-year-old's testimony also includes a different version of the financial confrontation between Xiourouppas and the first wanted person.
As he allegedly claimed in his testimony, the 36-year-old, his first wanted person, had reported that he had misunderstood the businessman about a Range Rover, which, according to him, had been given to him by Xiourouppas and then took it back.
He also allegedly complained that he had offered Xiurouppa expensive gifts and money, but he still asked for more.
Police race to complete the investigative work
According to non-legal sources, until yesterday 23 testimonies had been received and the receipt of about 41 additional deposits from Nicosia and Limassol is pending. The investigators are expected to examine persons from the family, friends and professional environment of both the suspects and the complainant, as well as other persons who may be directly or indirectly connected to the case.
At the same time, a third person is under the microscope of the investigators, who is being sought, as, according to the testimony that has been put before the DAOE, he allegedly played a key role in the case, transferring a second detonator to the 70-year-old suspect, a former co-convict of Xiouruppa, after the destruction of the first.
The four arrested are in eight-day detention, with investigators engaged in a race against time, attempting to unravel the tangle of the case, from the money route and communications with Dubai to the exact degree of involvement of each person in the alleged plot to assassinate Xiuruppa.
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in-cyprus
Police have arrested a 35-year-old hunter after two French members of environmental organisations were hit by shotgun pellets in a hunting area in the Famagusta district on Wednesday morning.
The two men, both aged 32, went to Famagusta General Hospital, where one was found to have an abrasion to the head and the other a superficial wound to the right shoulder.
Police were told at about 8am that the two had been hit at about 7am in an area where hunting is permitted. Members of the Game and Fauna Service were there at the time, along with the two men and a third man aged 31.
Police are investigating how the shooting happened, but initial inquiries indicate the shot appears to have come from the 35-year-old.
He was arrested on a court warrant shortly before 8pm on Wednesday and is being held for questioning.
Officers from the Famagusta CID and the Criminological Investigation Service at police headquarters examined the scene and collected evidence. The Famagusta CID is investigating.
