Police said Thursday they were continuing their investigation into the revelations made by Al Jazeera concerning the island’s citizenship by investment scheme.

Spokesman Christos Andreou said their investigation was based on the instructions given by the attorney-general.

The case was handled by the HQ CID but other departments stood ready to assist with any specialised examinations.

Andreou said no timeframe had been set to complete the investigation since it entailed taking statements from those involved and sometimes one statement could lead to 30 others.

He added that the investigation was progressing at a fast pace.

Police launched a criminal probe after House president Demetris Syllouris, Akel MP and developer Christakis Giovanis, and prominent lawyer Andreas Pittadjis, were secretly filmed by the Al Jazeera network talking to an undercover reporter posing as a representative of a Chinese businessman with a criminal record.

Syllouris is shown promising to facilitate the fictitious businessman’s passport application.

Both Syllouris and Giovanis resigned under the pressure of the public outcry while the government scrapped the investment scheme in its current form on November 1.

Acting on a tip-off, Larnaca police on Thursday found a loaded pistol in a plot of land in Oroklini.

Officers found a well-hidden loaded revolver, which they seized and sent for testing.

Police said they want to determine whether the pistol was used in any crimes in the past.

Aistis Mikalauskas, 29, a Lithuanian national, was arrested by police on Friday in relation to the murder of 36-year-old Iryna Hurskaya from Belarus.

So far, there is no further information as to the circumstances under which the arrest unfolded.

It is understood that the man was on friendly terms with Hurskaya and frequently visited her house.

Reports said the suspect has been absent from work in the past few days, reinforcing the authorities’ suspicions that he was implicated.

The woman, who was divorced, had three children.

A 54-year-old man was found dead on Saturday morning next to his bicycle near the old Limassol port.

No foul play is suspected.

Varnavas Demetriou, father of four, was located lying unconscious next to his bicycle on the main road near the old Limassol port. He was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

A small speck of blood was located next to him, while his bicycle does not seem to have any dents or other damage.

Police said after assessing footage from closed circuit cameras installed on buildings in the area, the cyclist was not hit by any cars nor was any other criminal act seen. It is believed he died from natural causes.

Police are undergoing training on how to handle cases of rape and sexual assault, the force announced on Monday.

The training by foreign experts, which will take place on two different weeks this month, aims to develop skills in investigators on how to handle crimes of sexual abuse and rape, police said in an announcement.

The first training session started on Monday and will end Thursday and is addressed to police investigators. The second training programme will take place on October 26-27 and will address first responders.

Only 25 police officers from district offices that work on the management of domestic violence and child abuse, and the office for combatting human trafficking will participate in all of the training programmes.

One person from the police academy and the British bases will also participate so they can inform the other members of their force in the future, the announcement said.

In collaboration with the British High Commission, members of the Glasgow and Clyde rape crisis centre will conduct the trainings. International media reported that Scottish counsellor Isabelle Kerr and former detective and sexual violence expert Alison Eaton will be part of that team.

The two experts will also help carry out a feasibility study looking into the possibility of opening a sexual assault referral centre on the island.

According to British media sources, the trainings come after the force’s treatment of a 19-year-old UK citizen who reported she had been gang raped by 12 Israeli youths last year in Ayia Napa led to an international row.

The young woman, who was eventually found guilty of lying, had later reported that police had pressured her to sign a retraction statement, withdrawing her rape claim after questioning her for hours.

The British teenager launched an appeal against her conviction this year, for public mischief.

Cyprus police denied any mishandling of the case.

Police on Thursday placed under arrest a 21-year-old man in connection with an investigation into a case involving the possession and distribution of child pornography material.

According to a statement, Cyprus police had earlier received information from Europol that a user on a social media platform had sent another user, a video file depicting sexual abuse of a minor.

Police secured a warrant and searched the 21-year-old’s house. They found and confiscated two mobile phones.

Just over half of all those booked for Covid-related infringements since the pandemic began in March, have not paid their fines, police have said.

The police press office on Tuesday said that since March 11, when the measures began, there have been 13,303 fines issued. Of these, only 6,600 were paid within the required timeframe.

Most of the fines issued against persons or business were in Nicosia and Limassol, followed by Paphos, police press officer Marina Christodoulidou told daily Phileleftheros.

There appears to be a wide variety of reasons for the fines not being paid on time, ranging from not being financially able to do so (unemployment etc), as well as opposition to the measures, or those considering the complaint unfair in the first place.

Reports stated that those who have appeared in court over the fines said attempts were made to pay but the payments system was not working.

Either the fine appeared to be paid or it could not be processed, they claimed.

A total of 41 police officers and two members of the British Bases police completed a two-day workshop in a bid to improve their response to rape claims, the police announced on Tuesday.

The workshop, organised by the Cyprus Police and the British High Commission under the auspices of the foreign ministry was conducted by Isabelle Kerr, manager of the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre, and by sexual violence expert Alison Eaton.

A first workshop with 25 officers took place from October 19 to 22.

“The officers who participated in the workshop had the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, develop their skills and improve their approach to cases of rape claims, learning about practices that are followed in many other countries,” a police statement said.

At the end of both workshops, diplomas were awarded to the participants by the Deputy Consul of the British High Commission in Cyprus Christina Smith and by the Director of the Cyprus Police Academy Themistos Arnaoutis.

The training comes after the force’s treatment of a 19-year-old UK citizen who reported she had been gang raped by 12 Israeli youths last year in Ayia Napa led to an international row.

The young woman, who was eventually found guilty of lying, had later reported that police had pressured her to sign a retraction statement, withdrawing her rape claim after questioning her for hours.

The British teenager has since launched an appeal against her conviction.

Cyprus police denied any mishandling of the case.

Limassol police are looking for a man in connection with a robbery committed on Tuesday evening.

A 48-year-old man, a resident of Limassol, told police he was attacked at 7.30pm after he parked his car in the parking place of the apartment building where he lives.

He said as soon as he got out of his car a man punched him in the face, grabbed the bag he was holding as well as the keys of his car and fled.

The bag reportedly contained money, credit cards and various personal items.

The 48-year-old was taken to a private clinic in Limassol by relatives where he received first air before he was discharged.

The perpetrator is described as being of strong build, 1.65 – 1.70 metres tall. He was wearing shorts, a white short-sleeved shirt and sneakers.

Police booked just two establishments for violating coronavirus protocols in 24 hours from Tuesday until Wednesday. They also booked 58 individuals.

According to the police press office, a total of 1,106 inspections were carried out.

Most checks were in Limassol, 308, and nearly as many, 306, in Famagusta. Larnaca followed closely with 293. In Nicosia 175 persons and premises were checked, in Paphos 100 and in the Morphou district 79.

According to the breakdown, 13 individuals were fined in Nicosia, 18 in Limassol, 15 in Larnaca, two in Paphos and ten in Famagusta.

The premises which violated the decrees are located in Limassol and Larnaca.

Two bills regulating fines for road violations caught on speed cameras have been submitted to the House of Representatives for approval.

Last July, 13 years after the national traffic camera network was dismantled due to a series of technical and legal issues, the government invited tenders for a new system seen as critical to efforts to stem the bloodshed on the roads.

Five bidders from Cyprus, Europe and the US submitted final tenders for the installation and operation of the cameras, which are expected to be up and running by the end of 2020.

According to media reports on Wednesday, the contract was awarded to US-based Conduent State and Local Solutions Inc, which submitted an offer of just over €34m.

The tender is for 90 fixed cameras to monitor red light and stop sign violations, as well as for speeding, with a further 20 mobile units to be deployed by the police during specific campaigns or in rural areas.

The two bills, which must be approved by House of Representatives before they come into force, outline the general regulations concerning procedural issues, such as how the out of court fines will be sent and paid, as well as other legal issues that are expected to arise once the speed cameras are fully operational.

Police and non-governmental organisations over the years have repeatedly stressed the necessity of re-introducing the cameras on roads in Cyprus as an effective measure to prevent road-related deaths.

Road safety efforts have also been boosted by heavier fines that came into force on October 1 for speeding and other traffic violations.

Under the bills submitted to the House, there will be a 90-day window to deliver the fine to the registered owner of the vehicle and the driver, whose name will be given by the owner.

They also provide for procedures to be followed should the individual refuse to take receipt of the fine notification or denies having committed the offence.

A registered owner who refuses to take receipt of the fine and fails to pay it will be charged. Registered owners who say they were not driving the vehicle must inform authorities in writing within 15 days of receiving the fine and give the name of the driver. The 90-day time frame will then be renewed. Alternatively, proceedings will continue against the owner. Companies owning vehicles caught breaking the law will also be liable. This applies to the company itself as well as to its board members or managing directors.

If the out of court fine is not paid within 15 days from the day it is delivered, a penalty equal to half the fine will be added to the sum, to be paid in 15 days. Payment of fines will not accepted 30 days after the fine has been delivered and the case will go to court. Payment of the fine will automatically mean the driver accepts the penalty points on the driving licence cited on the notification. These will be imposed electronically.

In addition, the bills will allow private citizens so authorised to deliver fine notifications.

Police reported 42 people and four establishments in the past 24 hours for breaching health and safety measures, it was announced on Saturday.

By 6am Saturday, police had carried out 1,662 checks across the island to ensure measures designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus are followed.

In Nicosia, officers conducted 251 inspections and reported 12 people and one establishment, a restaurant, which was fined €1,500 for allowing in more than the permitted number of customers.

Out of 177 checks in Limassol, police reported nine individuals. In Larnaca, officers reported one establishment because a member of staff was without a mask. They also reported nine people during 293 checks.

An establishment in Paphos was reported for remaining open after 10.30pm, police said. Five individuals were also fined during 246 checks.

Famagusta police carried out 546 checks and reported four people and one establishment where a member of staff was not wearing a mask.

In the Morphou area, police conducted 72 checks and reported one person. Marine police also carried out 77 checks without any bookings.

Two passengers at Larnaca airport were booked for failing to fill in the Cyprus Flight Pass.

Eleven police officers were found positive for coronavirus in Limassol, it was reported on Tuesday.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, so far 11 police officers have been found positive for Covid-19. The officers work in various units of the force.

As a result, around 30 officers are now in self isolation, CNA reported.

Police sources told CNA that it seems the officers contracted the virus outside the service. The fact that a small number of officers had to self-isolate was due to the strict measures taken, the same sources said.

Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis on Tuesday visited a building in Limassol which will be converted into the first Police House on the island, as part of efforts to bring police closer to the public.

The Police House, located on Anexartisias street in the heart of old Limassol, will operate with 15 community officers and eight officers, who will patrol on bicycles.

Yiolitis said the aim is to have constant police presence in the city centre “precisely to show the dynamic presence of the police and increase the citizen’s sense of security.

“We want our city centres to become places where children and citizens can move freely, feel safe, have the police next to them and not in against them,” she said.

If the operation of the first Police House, expected to be up and running by the beginning of next year, is deemed successful, more will be set up in other cities, she said.

Referring to this area, she said that “this building here was not chosen in random; it is in the centre of the old city of Limassol.

“We want to give back to the people the Limassol we remember, the Limassol we had when we grew up as children, who played in the streets and felt safe,” the minister said, who is from Limassol.

The Police House will operate around the clock.

Yiolitis thanked the Limassol mayor for his support and the Bishop of Limassol for offering the building.

Police on Tuesday evening arrested a 61-year-old man wanted for obtaining €65,000 under false pretenses.

He was located at his home in Limassol at 11pm and detained.

In November 2019, the 61-year-old allegedly agreed to sell a piece of land in Limassol to two men aged 52 and 40, telling them he was the real estate manager.

The two men told police in September they paid him €65,000 for the purchase, however, they later found out he was not the manager.

A photo and details of the 61-year-old suspect were released by the police on October 30 to help locate him.

Paphos police on Tuesday evening arrested a man in connection with a burglary early in the morning.

At 2am an 86-year-old woman reported to police that half an hour earlier, while she was asleep at home, a 35-year-old neighbour entered her home and assaulted her.

She said the man broke down the front door, pushed her, attacked her and tore a gold chain with a cross worth €1,000 from her neck.

An arrest warrant was issued against the 35-year-old who is known to the policet and he was detained.

Another arrest was made in Moutallos, Paphos, in the evening.

Officers of the crime prevention unit stopped a car in the area at 9.30pm for checks.

A search of his vehicle turned up five grammes of cannabis and two grammes of methamphetamine.

He was taken to the offices of the drug squad in Paphos where he reportedly said the drugs were for his own use.

Further investigations revealed he was also driving an unregistered vehicle.

Burglars broke into a house in Tremithousa in the Paphos district and made off with jewellery worth €250,000, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Thursday.

It said that the complaint was filed by the 66-year old owner of the house, a Ukrainian national permanent resident of Cyprus. He told police that his house had been burgled during his absence. The valuables stolen include watches and jewellery. They were not insured.

Paphos CID officers who went to the scene established that the burglars had entered through the balcony door which was closed but unlocked.

Police investigations continue.

Police on Friday arrested a 53-year-old man in Limassol on suspicion of detonating an explosive device that caused damage to a car.

The car was parked outside the home of its owner, a 61-year-old man, when the device went off just after midnight.

It caused little damage.

Police said the explosion was caused by an improvised device containing low explosive.

The suspect appears to have financial differences with the owner, police said.

He is expected to appear before court on Saturday for a remand hearing.

Police have been stepping up checks to detect breaches of coronavirus measures and have carried out more than 3,375 in 24 hours from Monday until Tuesday.

They booked 38 individuals and two premises as a result.

Twenty-one people were fined for not wearing masks indoors and outdoors, while 16 moved around outside during nightly curfew hours. One person was booked for transporting more than two construction workers in one vehicle.

In Nicosia, 822 checks were conducted, in Limassol 651, in Larnaca 490, in Paphos 813, in Famagusta 477 and in the Morphou region 107.

A total of 15 of the 3,375 inspections were done by marine police.

Police in Limassol have arrested a man wanted for traffic offences but not before he assaulted and injured a police officer.

An arrest warrant had been pending against the 31-year-old man for offences he allegedly committed on June 28 in the Limassol district when he was caught driving recklessly, without a driving licence, without insurance and without having paid road tax. In addition, he did not follow the orders of a police officer.

On Monday, he was seen leaving his vehicle and entering a home of which he was not a resident. Police officers found him in the kitchen of the house and arrested him after he put up a fight and injured one of them.

The injured officer was treated at Limassol general hospital and granted three-day sick leave.