prisons

Court binds Oroklini weapons cache suspects to trial, seeks motive

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Court binds Oroklini weapons cache suspects to trial, seeks motive

Two men, aged 46 and 35, were remanded in custody and committed for trial on July 1 in connection with a large weapons cache found in an Oroklini cemetery. The defendants face serious charges related to possessing explosives and firearms without a license. The cache, believed to be linked to underworld figures, included an array of weapons such as missiles, explosives, and a silenced pistol. Police are awaiting forensic results to determine if the weapons were used in past crimes and to identify potential accomplices through fingerprints or DNA evidence. Bail was rejected for both suspects, who will await trial in Central Prisons.

Orchestra travels to prison, medical centre and Tala

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Orchestra travels to prison, medical centre and Tala

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra will be performing three concerts as part of its community outreach program. The concerts will be held at the American Medical Centre, Nicosia Central Prisons, and Tala Amphitheatre in Paphos.

Man guilty of sexually abusing 11-year-old foster daughter

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Man guilty of sexually abusing 11-year-old foster daughter

A 50-year-old man was convicted on 15 charges of sexually abusing his 11-year-old foster daughter over the course of a year, as ruled by a court in Limassol. The man committed the crimes against the minor in the home where she lived as a foster child. The court found prosecutors’ witnesses credible and the defense witnesses, including the accused, unreliable. The defendant denied the charges, leading to a trial. The victim, now 14, was placed in the foster home three years ago after receiving little affection from her biological parents. She eventually spoke out about the abuse, leading to a complaint with authorities and the subsequent prosecution at the Limassol Criminal Court.

Drug squad followed largest-ever arms cache suspects for hours

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Drug squad followed largest-ever arms cache suspects for hours

Two men, aged 46 and 35, were arrested and remanded for eight days after the largest cache of weapons and explosives ever found in Cyprus was discovered at a cemetery in Oroklini.

Mobile phones, drugs found during Central Prisons cell search

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Mobile phones, drugs found during Central Prisons cell search

Prison guards discovered a mobile phone and drug-laced paper during a cell search at Central Prisons. The items, believed to be synthetic cannabinoids, were found divided into tear-off squares for smoking. This incident is the third of its kind, prompting investigations into how contraband materials are entering the facility. Additionally, individuals attempted to throw footballs containing mobile phones across the prison perimeter, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

Hamas leader Sinwar, facing ICC warrant request, plotted Oct 7 attack

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Hamas leader Sinwar, facing ICC warrant request, plotted Oct 7 attack

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, was imprisoned by Israel for 23 years before rising to a leadership role in the militant group. He made a speech in December 2022 promising a fierce strike against Israel, which was carried out less than a year later in an assault that killed 1,200 people. Sinwar had a history of punishing collaborators with Israel and has been devoted to the destruction of Israel and killing Jews.

Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

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Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

The Nicosia central prisons in Cyprus are overcrowded, with some accommodation blocks operating at more than 300 percent of their design capacity. Prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor and urinate in bottles due to lack of access to toilets at night. The report also highlighted instances of violence against prisoners, including staff slapping prisoners and using wooden sticks to intimidate them. Additionally, there were concerns raised about racist behavior, inter-prisoner violence, and the development of informal prisoner hierarchies within the prison.

Phone blocking system for prisons delayed again

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Phone blocking system for prisons delayed again

A new system deactivating mobile phones in the immediate vicinity of the central prisons will be installed and operational in one-and-a-half years. The previous deactivation system had been problematic, and delays in implementation were caused by the emergence of 5G technology. Additionally, steps are being taken to alleviate overcrowding at the prisons, including the construction of a new building at the open prison site and a completely new prisons complex by 2027. Legislation concerning the functioning of the attorney-general’s office is also being drafted based on a study commissioned by the government.

French police search for , ‘The Fly’ after deadly prison van escape

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French police search for , ‘The Fly’ after deadly prison van escape

Fact: Hundreds of police fanned out across northern France on a massive manhunt for a fugitive gangster known as “The Fly” after he was sprung from a prison van by gunmen in an attack that killed two prison guards.

Cyprus Symphony Orchestra plans new exciting series of concerts

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Cyprus Symphony Orchestra plans new exciting series of concerts

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra has exciting concerts lined up for the final two months of their artistic season. The orchestra’s concerts in April 2024 were sold out, and they are now preparing for their May and June concerts before a brief summer break.