investigations

Fake diplomas scandal in north spreads to military

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Fake diplomas scandal in north spreads to military

The Turkish Cypriot community is facing a scandal involving fake university diplomas and corruption, which has now affected the security forces’ command. Lieutenant Colonel Özgür Alp was remanded in custody for using a fake diploma for promotion within the Turkish military. The fake diploma was claimed to be from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. A high-ranking police officer, Serif Avcil, was also arrested over a fake diploma. This scandal is part of larger issues involving the KSTU university in Morphou, with allegations of embezzlement and fraud through fake student registrations and diplomas. The university is owned by Levent Uysal, a deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Celebi Ilik, involved in the scandal, used fake diplomas for civil service promotions and is facing charges related to forgery. Uysal attempted to obtain a €45 million loan from Swiss IntaCapital bank with fake documents in 2022 but avoided judicial proceedings by getting elected to parliament in May 2023. Turgay Avci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot higher education watchdog Yodak, is under investigation for possibly having a fake diploma. There are also allegations against Dunya Baris Universitesi for operating illegally and investigations into irregularities in a real estate purchase by Altinbas Holding. Ali Altınbaş and Sofu Altınbaş were detained in September 2020 for involvement in a fuel profiteering network and accused of establishing a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud, and forgery.

Police scrutinising CCTV footage from Saint Habakkuk Monastery

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Police scrutinising CCTV footage from Saint Habakkuk Monastery

– CCTV footage from the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk is central to a growing scandal.
– The footage and a safe with potentially incriminating material are affecting three police investigations.
– The video surveillance system was installed with the monks’ knowledge but reportedly lacked audio recording capabilities, and access was restricted to a few individuals.
– Lawyers allege that an individual, formerly affiliated with the Tamassos Bishopric, enabled audio recording, which might explain the monks’ behavior in front of the cameras.
– The footage is being processed by a police unit specializing in financial crimes and will be used in investigations into allegations against certain individuals, including Bishop Isaias.
– Citizens have complained about the release of videos containing personal information, prompting potential investigation by the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.
– The Police Sub-Department for vulnerable persons is investigating a harassment complaint, focusing on an ethical issue.
– The situation at the Monastery is under thorough investigation by the police.

Valuable tools stolen

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Valuable tools stolen

Paphos police arrested a 43-year-old man suspected of breaking into a warehouse in Kissonerga and stealing tools worth thousands of euros. The arrest was made following reports of two separate break-ins with tools valued at a total of €3,500 stolen. Part of the stolen property was found at the suspect’s residence and in his car. Investigations are ongoing.

EAC fined , €28,000 for worker death

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EAC fined , €28,000 for worker death

The Electricity Authority (EAC) was fined €28,000 due to the death of a worker in 2018. The worker, 42-year-old Georgios Georgiou, a father of three, fell four meters from a cherry picker in Larnaca. Investigations revealed that the EAC failed to meet minimum health and safety standards, specifically not maintaining the elevated work platform properly, failing to replace a worn pin which led to a mechanical failure causing the basket to fall, and not conducting periodic inspections or implementing a safety or risk management system.

Article 23: what you need to know about Hong Kong’s new national security laws

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Article 23: what you need to know about Hong Kong’s new national security laws

Hong Kong’s 90-seat legislature passed a new national security law, known as Article 23, which updates or introduces laws to prohibit treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets, and espionage. It includes sentences of up to life imprisonment for several offenses and up to 20 years for espionage. The law aims to tighten control over foreign political bodies and organizations in the city and includes provisions against “external interference.” The need for these laws is stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has guided Hong Kong’s relations with China since 1997. A previous attempt to enact Article 23 in 2003 was halted after significant public protest. The law also introduces a new offense related to endangering national security through the unlawful use of computers or electronic systems, with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Concerns have been raised about the broad definition of state secrets and the potential impact on research and information gathering. Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, claims the laws meet international standards and protect rights and freedoms. Additionally, Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, addressing some offenses and allowing mainland national security officers to operate in the city. China updated its own state secrets laws in 2023, with Hong Kong’s legislation aiming to be compatible with the standards of British-based common law.

AKEL, Greens voice concerns over Akamas

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AKEL, Greens voice concerns over Akamas

AKEL and the Green Party have expressed concerns regarding the Cyprus government’s handling of the Akamas peninsula issue. The parties met to discuss a memorandum sent by the Green Party to the government. They criticized the government for not complying with European directives concerning habitats, leading to severe criticism from the European Parliament and legal proceedings initiated by the European Commission against Cyprus. AKEL and the Green Party have raised the issue in Parliament and are monitoring the situation in cooperation with environmental organizations. The Green Party submitted memoranda to the President of the Republic and the Minister of Agriculture, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s response and calling for upgraded protection of the Akamas area to establish a real national park. They criticized the government’s handling of administrative investigations related to Akamas, with ongoing investigations into the projects deemed destructive to the habitat. The parties are concerned about the government’s actions and the potential legal consequences from the EU.

Monks expected to testify soon in St Habakkuk Holy Synod investigation

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Monks expected to testify soon in St Habakkuk Holy Synod investigation

The investigative committee of the Holy Synod is examining the issue of the Monastery of Sant Habakkuk in Fterikoudi, with two monks expected to testify soon. Victor Stelios, from the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, mentioned that the monks’ depositions might occur at the Monastery, depending on the committee’s decision. The process, following a decision by the Seven-Member Synodal Court, is now being handled by the investigative committee, which will later present its findings to the court for a final decision. The timeline for completing the investigation is aimed to be before Easter, but no specific timetable is set. The investigation’s progress may lead to additional witnesses being called. The police are also conducting an ongoing investigation into the case.

Police arrest suspects in Paphos house burglary

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Police arrest suspects in Paphos house burglary

Police arrested a 37-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman on Monday for a residential burglary and theft committed on October 15 of the previous year. The burglary took place in Paphos, where various items including gold and jewelry were stolen. Some of the stolen items were identified by their owner after the police published photos on March 15, 2024. The items were found in the suspects’ home on March 11, leading to their arrest for illegal possession of property and subsequent re-arrest. The investigation is ongoing by Paphos CID.

Two arrested at Pournara for inciting people smuggling

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Two arrested at Pournara for inciting people smuggling

Two individuals, aged 28 and 20, were arrested at the Pournara migrant reception centre in Cyprus for posting a video on social media that announced the arrival of migrants. This act was intended to inform people smugglers and was in violation of the Immigration Law and personal data protection law. The arrests were made following the issuance of court warrants, and the suspects are under investigation for facilitating illegal entry, transit, and residence. They were taken to the Nicosia District Court, which issued an eight-day remand.

MiCA for cryptos by end of year, early-2025

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MiCA for cryptos by end of year, early-2025

Cyprus plans to implement the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation by the end of this year or early 2025, aiming to protect investors and promote transformation in the crypto asset sector in the European Union. The MiCA framework, created by the European Commission, focuses on maintaining financial stability throughout the EU. Currently, there are no safeguards at the Union level for the crypto asset market, with only individual national legislation in place. The number of crypto-asset service providers increased from seven in 2022 to 11 by the end of that year, with a total of 16 applications pending so far this year. The Chairman of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Dr. George Theocharides, anticipates more CASP companies will emerge once MiCA is implemented. In 2023, CySEC conducted over 700 on-site and remote thematic inspections of supervised entities, assessed compliance with prudential supervision framework limits, and monitored Cypriot Investment Firms (CIFs) affected by Russia-Ukraine sanctions. CySEC also evaluated promotional material of over 35 CIFs, conducted investigations into CIFs, and imposed administrative sanctions totaling approximately EUR 2.2 million in 2023, with a total of EUR 6 million in administrative sanctions over the last three years. Additionally, 19 cases of CIFs had their operating licenses revoked or suspended. Dr. Theocharides highlighted the importance of the upcoming MiCA regulation for crypto-asset service providers, aimed at ensuring investor protection and market integrity. He urged investors to be cautious when investing in crypto-assets due to the associated risks. Despite challenges, the capital market in Cyprus remains of significant interest, with 82 entities receiving approval in 2023 and the number of supervised entities at 830 by the end of February 2024. CySEC also participated in events promoting financial literacy and issued warnings about entities posing as CySEC officials or imitating its website.