By George Psyllides
RELATIVES of a suspect held in connection with the illegal transfer of land in the remote Tyliria area have repeatedly tried to dissuade material witness from telling police the truth, a court heard yesterday.
The claim was made by Superintendent Andreas Naoum during the hearing to renew the remand of two Land Survey Department officials suspected of illegally transferring land belonging to other people.
Costas Kalathas and Michalis Makaritis were yesterday remanded in custody for eight days for the third time since the case emerged late last month.
Three other land survey officials initially arrested with the two suspects have since been released without charge.
Six other people, including the Mukhtars of Pigenia and Kato Pyrgos, are currently being held in connection with the same case.
Naoum told the court yesterday police had witness testimony that Makaritis’ relatives had repeatedly tried to force a witness to withhold evidence pertaining to the suspect’s alleged involvement in the case.
Naoum said the investigation was a gruelling process, due mainly to the bulk of information coming in from all directions, adding that police were slowly uncovering the money trail, which he said led to how the cash was split by the suspects.
Naoum said the suspects allegedly collaborated with the others, primarily the Muchtars, to forge and obtain documents under false pretences in order to transfer the land and subsequently sell it, usually above its estimated value.
From the investigation, police told the court, it emerged that several files thought to be incriminating for the suspects were missing.
Police say Kalathas was the last person to handle the file, something he denies.
The file contained documents concerning the transfer of Turkish Cypriot property that was sold to an investment company for £972,197, roughly 30 per cent over its estimated value of £650,000.
The court heard allegations that £100,000 went to Kalathas, who deposited the money in specific banks and withdrew them the next day in cash, which he distributed among other individuals some of whom are in custody.
In another instance, Kalathas and the Mukhtar of Kato Pyrgos Krinos Theophanous allegedly ‘fixed’ all the necessary documents for the transfer of a plot of land in the name of Andreas Georgiou.
In November 2000, the new owner ‘sold’ half the land to Kalathas’ sister for £10,000 while its value was £50,000.
In a 26-page testimony, Naoum described how the suspects’ in several other instances were bribed to forge documents for the transfer of land.
Naoum said that Makaritis, who was an auditor, proceeded to approve the transfers, despite the lack of critical documents needed in the process.
On top of that, Makaritis was found to own a piece of land, which was part of a bigger transfer he had been handling in his capacity.
Since his arrest, Makaritis has given police two very long testimonies but Kalathas has refused.
Police told the court that should the investigation be completed before the remand expired, they would proceed to charge the suspects or release them if it was determined they did not have a case.
