Two held over fake sterling scam

TWO persons were yesterday remanded in custody on suspicion of selling counterfeit pounds sterling in the coastal town of Ayia Napa.

The men were arrested on Thursday night, after a buyer suspected something amiss. They were remanded in custody yesterday by the Famagusta district court. The detainees are a 17-year-old and a 40-year-old; both are employed at a discotheque in Ayia Napa.

In court, police investigators cited the testimony of a woman, a shopkeeper, who on Thursday was asked by a young man for Cypriot currency in exchange for sterling. The man later left the scene on the back seat of a moped.

The shopkeeper’s suspicions were aroused and, on checking the notes she had just bought, she saw they all carried the same serial number. The woman immediately notified police.

In testimony to the police, the 17-year-old admitted to selling counterfeit money and said he was working for the older man.

Famagusta CID are investigating.

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