Man held over ‘Egypt drugs girl’ case

POLICE said yesterday they have detained a 21-year-old Nicosia man thought to be connected with the case of a 19-year-old woman arrested in Egypt last week for allegedly possessing 3.5 kilos of drugs.

The man was up in court yesterday but the judge adjourned the hearing after his defence lawyer claimed his client had been abused by police while in custody.

Before proceedings were interrupted, the court heard the man was in Egypt at the same time as Maria Antoniadou from the Nicosia suburb of Pallouriotissa, who is currently being held for the alleged possession of 3.5 kilos of marijuana.

Antoniadou was detained by Egyptian authorities at Port Said while she was about to board the Louis cruise liner Princessa Victoria, where she worked.

The investigating officer yesterday told the court the man had met Antoniadou at Port Said, something the suspect denies.

Police say they have eyewitness testimony confirming the suspect met Antoniadou, and that he passed the drugs on to her stuffed in a pouffe.

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