arrest

Limassol man arrested in child pornography case

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Limassol man arrested in child pornography case

A 40-year-old resident of Limassol was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a child pornography case. The electronic crime unit of the police discovered the suspect’s alleged involvement in exchanging messages containing pictures and videos of minors and participation in groups trafficking child pornography. The arrest was made on a Friday afternoon after obtaining a warrant, based on testimony against the suspect. Police seized a tablet and mobile phone during investigations at his home.

Police deny delays over monk scandal

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Police deny delays over monk scandal

The police have been criticized for their handling of a scandal involving monks, with accusations of special treatment due to the church’s influence being denied by the police. Videos have surfaced showing a monk assaulting a woman and staging a fake miracle, but lawyers claim these videos are doctored and have criticized the police’s approach, suggesting evidence may have been tampered with. The police spokesman, Christos Andreou, stated that there is insufficient evidence for arrests and mentioned the possibility of issuing European arrest warrants to prevent implicated parties from fleeing the country. He confirmed that no police action would be taken until after a Holy Synod meeting, as agreed upon by the attorney general, police chief, and archbishop. Andreou also revealed that police leadership was unaware of officers in civilian clothes being present at the Osiou Avakoum monastery during an incident involving hooded individuals. This operation, ordered by Tamassos Bishop Isaias for transferring valuable items, unexpectedly included €800,000 in cash, which the police did not intervene to secure, leading to criticism from MPs. The presence of plainclothes officers and the far-right party leader, Christos Christou, at the scene has sparked further controversy. The involvement of the secret service has been rumored but not confirmed. The police have investigated the monastery multiple times but not the bishopric, and it is unclear when the money was taken into police custody for investigation.

Arrest made in money laundering case

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Arrest made in money laundering case

A 43-year-old man was arrested in Cyprus for being suspected of receiving millions of euros from a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman since August 2023. The woman is accused of transferring a total of €8 million to Cyprus and was arrested for money laundering after reporting a robbery of €420,000 in cash. She has been remanded in custody and faces 60 charges related to money laundering. The case is under investigation by the anti-money laundering unit (Mokas).

Two arrested for money laundering

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Two arrested for money laundering

Police in Limassol arrested two individuals on Thursday for suspected money laundering. A property under surveillance for alleged financial crimes led to the arrests when a car arrived, and both occupants were detained. The individuals, a 33-year-old driver and a 34-year-old passenger, both third country nationals, were found with significant amounts of cash. The passenger had €161,425 in cash within 17 envelopes. A further search of the property revealed €706,300, ,539, and £1,375 in cash, along with two banknote counting machines and empty envelopes, leading to the arrest of a 41-year-old claiming partial ownership of the property. Additional searches at the 34-year-old’s house found €815 in cash, multiple mobile phones, and empty envelopes. The financial crime investigation unit in Limassol is continuing the investigation.

Bournemouth hit back from three goals down to stun Luton

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Bournemouth hit back from three goals down to stun Luton

Luton Town lost 4-3 to Bournemouth after leading by three goals, missing the chance to exit the Premier League relegation zone. Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene, and Ross Barkley scored for Luton in the first half. Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke, Illia Zabarnyi, and Antoine Semenyo, with two goals, completed the comeback in the second half. The match was a rescheduled fixture due to Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffering a cardiac arrest in the initial game. Lockyer, who has since recovered and had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator fitted, was honored before the match. Luton remains in 18th place with 21 points from 28 games, while Bournemouth is in 13th place with 35 points. This game marked the first time in 21 years a Premier League team won after trailing by three goals.

Man found with valuable items arrested

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Man found with valuable items arrested

Police arrested a 40-year-old man in Limassol for possession of stolen jewelry. During a raid on his house, officers found ten wristwatches, four rings, an engagement ring with an engraving, a gold coin, three collector’s coins, a bike, an electric bike, and other items. The man could not explain how he acquired these items, leading to his arrest and the seizure of the items as evidence. Police are continuing their investigations.

Property theft suspect apprehended in Limassol

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Property theft suspect apprehended in Limassol

A 40-year-old man in Limassol was arrested for illegal possession of property suspected to be stolen, including ten wristwatches, four rings, one engagement ring with an inscription, one gold pound, three collectible coins, seven small coins, a bicycle, an electric bicycle, and other items. The arrest occurred after a police search of his residence under a judicial warrant. The suspect failed to provide satisfactory explanations for possessing these items and is currently in custody while investigations continue.

Man arrested for attempted car theft

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Man arrested for attempted car theft

In Paphos, a 36-year-old man was arrested for attempting to steal a car in Kato Paphos by trying to start it with cables after breaking into it. The police were alerted by citizens and found the man in the car, which had its license plates inside and was registered to a 53-year-old resident of Paphos. The man could not provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions and was arrested for unlawful possession of property. The police are investigating to determine the circumstances under which the car came into the man’s possession.

Barbershop bomb suspect remanded

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Barbershop bomb suspect remanded

A 42-year-old man was arrested and remanded in custody in connection with a bomb explosion at a barbershop in Nicosia on Sunday evening. The explosion was caused by an explosive device placed in front of the shop, resulting in extensive damage. Police investigations are ongoing, and incriminating testimony led to the man’s arrest.

Calls for resignation over money laundering oversight

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Calls for resignation over money laundering oversight

MPs in Cyprus have expressed concerns over the country’s compliance with money laundering regulations due to a lack of coordination and communication between the police, the money laundering unit (Mokas), and the customs office. Over €160 million in cash has entered Cyprus in the past four years, raising questions about tax evasion and money laundering investigations. A recent case involved the arrest of a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman facing 60 counts of money laundering, having brought €8 million in cash to the country. There is criticism over a “strange” meeting in 2023 where police allegedly instructed the customs office to route information through them before reaching Mokas, a directive not supported by law. The customs office provides Mokas with a USB detailing declared cash sums every three months, indicating a delay in communication. Concerns were raised about the lack of real-time information sharing, the effectiveness of the legal framework against money laundering, and the existence of a shadow economy. The committee chair criticized the absence of coordination among state services and described the situation as “criminal” due to the inaction of Mokas and the police.