Turks extend remand on Greek man

A GREEK national who crossed to the occupied areas nearly two weeks ago was yesterday remanded for a further four days by a military ‘court’ in the north.

Turkish forces arrested George Constantinou Kantarakis, 32 from the Greek island of Santorini, on the afternoon of January 8 in the buffer zone on the outskirts of Nicosia.

He was initially remanded for three days, then another eight days and yesterday for a further four.

Reports from the north did not indicate why Kantarakis was still being detained.

Kantarakis, who was staying with friends in Nicosia, has told UN officials who visited him that he crossed to the north deliberately and wants to stay there.

A second Greek national, Spyros Lilles, 24, was last week sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in the north for allegedly entering a sensitive military zone. He has appealed against the conviction.

Lilles strayed north on December 21 in the early hours. It is thought he had been drinking heavily.

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