Limassol men charged after fight with Turkish Cypriots

By George Psyllides

THE TRIAL of two Limassol brothers charged with assaulting and causing grievous bodily harm to two Turkish Cypriots and a Greek Cypriot taxi driver was yesterday adjourned until May following a request by the defence.

The pair, aged 38 and 45, were arrested on Sunday following a complaint made by a 62-year-old taxi driver that they allegedly assaulted and beat him and two Turkish Cypriots who had crossed over from the occupied north to see their home.

Police said the incident happened at 5pm in Limassol’s Turkish Cypriot quarter.

The two Turkish Cypriots, along with three women had taken a taxi to visit their home in Ayios Ioannis.

But the two suspects, who currently occupy the house, allegedly attacked the visitors.

The two are also said to have beaten the taxi driver.

The two brothers were later arrested and released after being charged.

Justice Minister Doros Theodorou condemned the incident and vowed that the state would not tolerate such dangerous and unacceptable behaviour.

“It is sad because some people have tried to poison the excellent climate that was created between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the prospects of reunifying our country,” Theodorou said on Sunday.

He added: “The state won’t tolerate such unacceptable and dangerous behaviours, under any circumstances because as isolated as this incident may be, it will be dealt with immediately, sternly and mercilessly, based on the laws of the Republic.”

Theodorou said the government was determined to use any way to safeguard the citizens’ rights to free and safe movement.

Yesterday the pair denied the charges and the trial was adjourned until May 9 following a request by their defence.

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.