Crime

Lefka court to reopen on Monday

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Lefka court to reopen on Monday

The courthouse in the village of Lefka is set to reopen on Monday after being closed for over five years due to renovations. It had been closed since 2018 because of safety concerns, with court proceedings temporarily moved to Morphou. Lefka, separated from Morphou as a distinct district in December 2016, traditionally has its own courthouse and police department, similar to the other five districts in the north. With this reopening, the north will have six district courts located in Famagusta, Kyrenia, Lefka, Morphou, Nicosia, and Trikomo. Concerns about the absence of a courthouse in Lefka were raised by residents in January, highlighting an increase in crimes. They emphasized the importance of trying crimes in their place of commission as a deterrent. Additionally, there were calls for the establishment of a Lefka police department, which had been transferred to Morphou in 1977 and not re-established in Lefka since its separation from Morphou.

All 19 Zahra Street fight suspects on bail

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All 19 Zahra Street fight suspects on bail

All 19 individuals accused of participating in a mass brawl on Zahra Street in northern Nicosia were released on bail. During the incident, one suspect placed golf clubs in a vehicle and drove to the scene with another suspect. A minor involved in the brawl was seriously beaten by an individual who has not been arrested. The bails set varied based on the severity of the crimes and the ages of the accused. The fight was described by the Turkish Cypriot Nicosia Mayor as a “mafia exercise.” Zahra Street, located in Nicosia’s old town, is known for its social spaces, cafes, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

Three years in jail for people smuggler

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Three years in jail for people smuggler

A 34-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison for smuggling 34 people into Cyprus. He captained a nine-metre-long boat intercepted by police off the coast of Cape Greco with 47 people on board in July of the previous year. He was convicted of aiding the illegal entry of persons from a third country into the Republic, doing so for profit, and transporting a person by waterway in an unsafe vessel.

Taxi driver arrested carrying a gun

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Taxi driver arrested carrying a gun

A Turkish taxi driver, suspected of selling weapons in the south, was arrested by police in Famagusta after being found with a pistol in his car’s glove compartment. The 34-year-old, married to a Turkish Cypriot and frequently traveling to the south for work, was stopped and searched at the Deryneia checkpoint. He faces charges for illegal possession and transportation of a firearm and is expected to appear before the District Court of Famagusta in Paralimni. Police are investigating to identify the intended recipient of the weapon, with the suspect reportedly uncooperative.

German police arrest Red Army Faction suspect Daniela Klette

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German police arrest Red Army Faction suspect Daniela Klette

Daniela Klette, a member of the Red Army Faction (RAF) militant group in Germany, was arrested in Berlin on charges of armed robbery and attempted murder after being on the run for decades. The arrest followed a police appeal on a TV crime show that generated 250 tip-offs. Klette, 65, was part of the RAF’s third generation along with Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub. Ammunition was found in the apartment where Klette was detained. The RAF, founded by Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, was involved in murders and hostage-takings during the 1970s. The charges against Klette and her accomplices relate to crimes committed between 1999 and 2016, after the RAF had officially disbanded in 1998.

EU lawmakers approve tougher bloc-wide penalties for environmental crime

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EU lawmakers approve tougher bloc-wide penalties for environmental crime

The European Parliament approved tougher penalties for environmental crimes, including illegal timber trade, with offences punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Company directors can be prosecuted for corporate wrongdoing. The legislation, applicable to the EU’s 27 member states, targets offences such as illegal depletion of water resources, grave breaches of EU chemicals law, pollution by ships, and destruction of ecosystems due to large-scale forest fires or widespread contamination. It updates a 2008 EU directive, allowing for the prosecution of individuals in leading company positions responsible for pollution. Environmental crimes committed by individuals and company representatives can result in imprisonment up to eight years, with offences causing death punishable by up to 10 years. Offenders are required to rehabilitate damaged environments and pay compensation. Companies can face fines up to 5% of their annual worldwide turnover or up to 40 million euros. The directive was adopted by 499 votes in favor, 100 against, and 23 abstentions and will take effect after publication in the EU Official Journal. Member states have two years to incorporate the rules into their national legal systems.

Sydney gay Mardi Gras asks police not to march after officer accused of murders

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Sydney gay Mardi Gras asks police not to march after officer accused of murders

Australian police are in discussions with the organizers of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade about their participation in the event, following the charge of a serving police officer with the murder of two gay men. Human remains were found in the search for the bodies of the men, who had been missing for days. The charged officer, who is also gay and had participated in past parades, has caused unrest within the LGBT community. Parade organizers have requested that police not march in the 2024 parade to avoid adding distress. Discussions include the possibility of police attending in plainclothes. The relationship between Sydney’s police force and the gay and lesbian community has been complex, with formal apologies issued by the force in 2018 for past suppression of gay rights protests. Relations have improved, with LGBT officers marching in uniform in recent years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed support for police participation in the parade, highlighting the progress since the 1978 Mardi Gras.

Limassol court sentences cocaine traffickers to prison

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Limassol court sentences cocaine traffickers to prison

The Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol sentenced a 34-year-old defendant to 12 years in prison for possession and intent to supply cocaine, following his admission to the charges. This decision was related to the discovery and seizure of 8 kilograms of cocaine on October 13, 2023, at his residence in Mouttagiaka. The defendant, who was involved in drug trafficking with a 35-year-old accomplice, was caught during a CID operation while distributing cocaine. In addition to cocaine, a kilogram of cannabis, precision scales, money, a mobile phone, eleven bullets, and two smoke grenades were seized. The estimated value of the seized cocaine is approximately one million euros. The 34-year-old has been enrolled in the witness protection program and will testify against his accomplice and godfather.

Lawyers report confession in Thanasis case

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Lawyers report confession in Thanasis case

The coronial inquest into the death of Thanasis Nikolaou began today at the Limassol District Court, with the coroner being Doria Varosiotou. The proceedings included the scheduled examination of Pathologist Dimitra Karagianni. Lawyers for Thanasis’s family reported a new statement made to the Police, claiming an individual confessed to assaulting and killing Thanasis with others. They requested the recall of Deputy Chief Melis Antoniou for further investigation.