investigations

Underage driver stopped in Paphos

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Underage driver stopped in Paphos

An underage driver, aged 16, was stopped by police in Paphos for driving a vehicle that belonged to his father. The incident led to the father being questioned and the car being taken in for the duration of the investigation. Additionally, in the Paphos district, a 40-year-old taxi driver tested positive for drugs, and a 33-year-old was found with 4.5g of cannabis. Furthermore, a 25-year-old resident threatened and swore at an official operating a mobile traffic camera in Chlorakas and is currently being sought by the authorities.

President favours a single fiduciary regulator

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President favours a single fiduciary regulator

Cyprus’ reputation has been negatively affected for over seven years due to the Jho Low scandal, where the Malaysian criminal obtained a Cypriot passport through real estate investments and donations to the Church of Cyprus. The late archbishop admitted to assisting Jho Low in obtaining citizenship, claiming ignorance of his past. The 2021 OCCRP report highlighted Jho Low as the face of the 1MDB embezzlement scandal, stealing billions from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund. The Cypriot “golden passport” program, officially known as Citizenship by Investment, aimed to attract wealthy foreigners but was criticized for facilitating access for kleptocrats and criminals to the EU. The program was lucrative for lawyers and financial service providers in Cyprus. The new president of Cyprus has committed to reforming these practices to restore the country’s reputation as a legitimate investment and financial services destination. A proposal suggests assigning regulatory responsibilities to the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) to ensure independence and effectiveness in supervision, despite opposition from the Cyprus Bar Association. CySEC, under the leadership of Chairman George Theocharides, acknowledges the need for additional resources and expertise to take on this challenge. Demetra Kalogerou, former CySEC chair, supports the government’s decision for a single regulator, criticizing the lack of independence in the current system where professional associations regulate their own members.

Paphos man arrested for setting car on fire

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Paphos man arrested for setting car on fire

A 29-year-old man from the Paphos district was arrested for setting a car on fire in the village of Lemba, which resulted in the vehicle being completely destroyed. The incident occurred around 6pm on Friday, and the man allegedly admitted to the act, which police believe was done maliciously. The investigation is ongoing.

Police pursue evidence in St Habakkuk scandal

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Police pursue evidence in St Habakkuk scandal

– Police investigators visited the Tamassos Bishopric to gather more evidence related to the scandal at the Saint Habakkuk Monastery.
– They reviewed video footage of hooded individuals’ “invasion” on March 5 to ascertain if off-duty police officers were present.
– Criminal investigators have been involved in the investigations, focusing on whether there was police involvement at the Monastery.
– The investigation is examining €807,000 in cash found at the Monastery and the origin of this money.
– The Cybercrime Unit and the Vulnerable Groups Management Sub-Directorate are also involved in the investigation.
– The investigation includes examining a video of a monk assaulting a woman with a belt.
– The Police have evidence of over €800,000 from the Monastery.
– The publication of videos related to the case could potentially harm future court proceedings.
– The security company employing the hooded individuals who entered the Monastery has a license.
– Neither the woman assaulted by the monk nor Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios are assisting in the investigation of the assault.
– The case may go to court after further investigation and testimonies.
– Archimandrites Nektarios and Porphyrios have not yet testified against Bishop Isaiah regarding threats and violence but plan to do so after gathering all necessary material.

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.

President says everything will investigated in monastery scandal

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President says everything will investigated in monastery scandal

President Nikos Christodoulides stated that all aspects of the scandals at the Osiou Avakoum monastery will be thoroughly investigated. He responded to criticism from the opposition party Akel, asserting that the scandal does not reflect governmental failures. Christodoulides emphasized that any cases arising from the investigation would be brought to justice promptly, highlighting ongoing investigations into police responsibilities and allegations. The police have been criticized for their handling of the monastery scandal but have denied giving the church special treatment.

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.

Something smells fishy in the case of the Ukrainian woman

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Something smells fishy in the case of the Ukrainian woman

A Ukrainian woman made 20 trips to Cyprus, bringing in nearly eight million euros, under suspicious circumstances. Despite her transactions being under scrutiny, she was not arrested until after a theft occurred. On each trip, she carried substantial sums of money, claiming it was for property purchases, but investigations revealed she and her husband do not own any property, bank accounts, or shares in any company in Cyprus. The case raises questions about the effectiveness of the country’s measures against money laundering.

This is not a battle for perceptions, serious crimes have been committed

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This is not a battle for perceptions, serious crimes have been committed

The text discusses a series of scandals involving monks, including fraud related to miracles, romantic activities, and other misconduct. It mentions leaked videos, letters, and dialogues that have become public, contributing to the scandal. The Attorney General has appointed criminal investigators to work with the police on investigating potential criminal offenses related to these incidents. The text also describes specific examples of alleged misconduct, including a video of monks preparing myrrh and another video showing a monk striking a woman. In the latter case, the woman later claimed the video was edited and took responsibility for the misunderstanding, leading the police to state they cannot proceed without a complaint from her. The text criticizes the handling of these scandals and expresses concern about the impact on public opinion and the potential for more serious crimes to be uncovered.

Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

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Archbishop expresses regret over monastery scandal

Cyprus’ Archbishop Georgios expressed regret over the scandal at the Osiou Avakoum monastery involving allegations of fraud, misconduct, and immorality among clergy members. He announced a thorough investigation into the scandals and urged police and authorities to fully investigate. The Holy Synod has tasked its judicial bodies with investigating the case. Additionally, the monastery is under scrutiny for being built on land protected under the Natura 2000 environmental policy, leading to legal action against the monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorised constructions. Two investigators have been appointed to examine any criminal offences related to the case, and there are calls for the money laundering unit to investigate the church. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis committed to fully investigating the scandal.