A 40-YEAR-old man was yesterday referred to a criminal court to stand trial in connection with possession and transport of arms and explosives.
Mousa Hilmi El Akad, alias Salik, a permanent resident of Cyprus, was arrested in August in connection with a serried of bombings.
He was subsequently implicated in arms possession after the arrest of a National Guard lieutenant colonel, detained for possession of arms and explosives when he was named by a third suspect, Fanos Mahattou.
Mahattou had been arrested along with Akad on suspicion of possession of explosives.
Mahattou apparently struck a deal with the authorities to testify against suspended infantry officer Savvas Sudjis.
Yesterday, the Larnaca district court ruled that there was sufficient evidence against Akad in connection with 23 counts of arms and explosives possession as well as conspiracy to commit felony.
The conspiracy charges faced by the 40-year-old concern an alleged deal with Sudjis for the provision of explosives and firearms.
Akad, who worked at a motorcycle rental shop in Sotira in the Famagusta district, is accused of possession and transport of a Czech-made M58 automatic, a Taurus Brazil revolver, a Colt Peacekeeper 357 Magnum CTG, a Beretta pistol, a Luger pistol as well as a hunting shotgun, six electric detonators and several pounds of TNT.
The offences, police told the court, were allegedly committed between January and August this year.
Akad will remain in custody until his trial on November 5.
Sudjis, 47, is currently facing 50 charges of illegal possession of explosives and firearms as well as conspiracy to commit felony.
His trial begins on October 16.
The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.
