investigation

Man arrested in Limassol in child pornography case

by
Man arrested in Limassol in child pornography case

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, following a tip from Europol about uploads of videos involving sexual abuse of minors from his account. The arrest occurred on Sunday just after noon, based on a court-ordered arrest warrant. The investigation led to the seizure of a laptop and five mobile devices from the man’s home in Limassol and involved individuals close to him. The electronic crime unit is continuing its investigation.

Man arrested in Paphos in car accident investigation

by
Man arrested in Paphos in car accident investigation

A 43-year-old was arrested in Paphos for being suspected of involvement in an accident that injured a 54-year-old motorcyclist in Kissonerga. The accident occurred on Sunday morning, leaving the motorcyclist in critical condition at Paphos General Hospital. The arrest was made after police received an arrest warrant. Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.

Man critically injured in competitive motorbike crash

by
Man critically injured in competitive motorbike crash

A 39-year-old competitive motorbike driver is in critical condition at Paphos General Hospital following an accident during a competition in Makounta. The incident occurred around 11.15am on Sunday when a 55-year-old driver fell off his bike, causing the 39-year-old, who was behind him, to be severely injured. The injured driver was initially taken to Polis Chrysochou hospital before being transferred to Paphos General due to the severity of his condition. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation by the police.

Larnaca man arrested in armed robbery investigation

by
Larnaca man arrested in armed robbery investigation

A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with a burglary in Larnaca that occurred in mid-February. This arrest followed the earlier arrests of a 40-year-old and an 18-year-old for the same incident. The burglary took place around 2am on February 19, where four individuals wearing hoods broke into a 59-year-old woman’s home, restrained her and her two domestic helpers, and stole jewelry, watches, and money. The police’s investigations led to the arrest of the two initially mentioned individuals on March 16, and further evidence led to the arrest of the 23-year-old. He is expected to be brought before the Larnaca District Court for a remand, and the Larnaca CID continues its investigations.

A message with specific recipients behind the explosion at NAVA

by
A message with specific recipients behind the explosion at NAVA

A bomb attack occurred at the summer club “Nava” in the Pernera area of Protaras in the early hours of a Thursday, causing significant concern for the police. This incident is linked to a conflict over control of the nightlife in free Famagusta and has broader implications due to the club’s previous ownership by individuals from Nicosia. The attack, which involved a low-powered improvised explosive device causing extensive damage to the club, is under investigation for potential connections to recent bombings in Nicosia. The unclear ownership of the club complicates the investigation. The club, popular among holidaymakers from Nicosia, was closed for the winter season and was scheduled to reopen before summer. Evidence from the scene is being analyzed, and individuals connected to the club’s management and others are being questioned. The police are investigating the incident as an attempted destruction of property with explosives and are seeking further testimonies and video evidence from the area.

Tax department to look into scandal hit monastery

by
Tax department to look into scandal hit monastery

The tax department in Cyprus is examining the books at Osiou Avakoum monastery to determine if it has met all taxation requirements. This action is part of an audit to assess compliance with tax obligations by the monastery and individuals involved. The investigation follows the suspension of five monks by the Holy Synod amid scandals involving suspect economic activities, financial crimes, sexual harassment, and abuse allegations. The monastery had previously applied for a €3 million fundraiser in 2020 without submitting necessary financial statements. A safe box containing €800,000 was found at the monastery, which was transferred to the Tamassos Bishopric under police supervision.

‘Mockery of justice’: Andreas Loizou’s family slams AG

by
‘Mockery of justice’: Andreas Loizou’s family slams AG

The attorney-general decided to charge one police officer for failing to properly investigate the death of Andreas Loizou, who died in a road accident at age 17, 12 years ago. Despite two drivers being implicated in the accident, only one was identified and will not face criminal charges, with no efforts to locate the other driver. Loizou’s family accuses the police of a coverup and demands justice, highlighting the case’s reopening last year amid such accusations. The accident occurred under Moutayiaka bridge on September 2, 2012, involving Loizou on his motorbike and two cars, leading to his death.

Monastery sought , €3m fundraiser, ignored govt reminders

by
Monastery sought , €3m fundraiser, ignored govt reminders

The Osiou Avakoum monastery applied for a €3 million fundraiser to the interior ministry in 2020 but failed to submit the necessary financial statements afterwards. The application for the fundraiser, intended for the expansion of the monastery, was approved by the Tamassos Bishopric. The monastery is currently embroiled in scandals involving financial crimes, sexual harassment, and abuse, with investigations being conducted by the police and the anti-money laundering unit. A safe box containing €800,000 was found at the monastery, and the cash was transferred to the Tamassos Bishopric under police supervision. No arrests have been made in connection with these issues. The interior ministry expected a financial statement from the monastery after approving its fundraising application in 2021 but did not receive any despite sending eight reminders. A subsequent fundraising request from the monastery in 2023 was not approved, even though it provided bank statements showing €85,000 transfers from the previous fundraiser. The ministry plans to re-examine the case in light of these revelations, and MPs have called for a thorough investigation into money laundering within the church. Two investigators have been appointed by the attorney-general to examine allegations involving police officers’ presence at the monastery without senior officers’ knowledge or orders.

Evidence collection nearly done in Osiou Avakoum scandals

by
Evidence collection nearly done in Osiou Avakoum scandals

Two monks involved in scandals at the Osiou Avakoum monastery will provide statements to the Holy Synod’s investigative committee next week. This step is part of the final evidence collection before a decision is made. The investigation by a six-member ecclesiastical court of the Holy Synod is not expected to finish before Easter. The committee is focused on reaching a reliable conclusion rather than the time the process takes. A CCTV video under police investigation will be considered in the final decision, despite concerns about its legality. Additionally, there are ongoing police investigations into sexual harassment allegations and possible financial crimes at the monastery. Theologian Theodoros Kyriacou testified in support of a sexual harassment complaint against the monastery’s head, filed by a former employee.

Bishop Isaiah testifies on monastery allegations

by
Bishop Isaiah testifies on monastery allegations

– Bishop Isaiah of Tamassos testified for three days about financial irregularities and other actions by the monks of the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk, which he claims are criminal offenses.
– During his testimony, Bishop Isaiah mentioned a citizen’s complaint of sexual harassment against him.
– The complainant and theologian Theodoros Kyriakou also testified about the sexual harassment case.
– Bishop Isaiah provided evidence including photographs, audio recordings, and videos to support his allegations.
– It is suggested that the area around the bishop was under surveillance, but there is no indication of illegal recording.
– Monks of the Monastery of Saint Habakkuk were aware that their actions were being recorded and allegedly tried to disable the sound unsuccessfully.
– There is no information about a video circulating that records confessions of the faithful.
– Priests and employees at the Bishopric of Tamassos testified mainly about the financial management of the monastery and denied any form of violence against the monks.
– The testimonies described interactions with the monks, including the transfer of a safe to the bishop of Tamassos and the monks visiting the Bishopric’s office voluntarily.
– The monks under investigation claimed they were pressured into admitting to allegations.
– Two monks who recently went missing are to be summoned for testimony before the investigative committee of the Holy Synod and have been seen in various places.