Remand extended
THE LIMASSOL district court yesterday renewed a remand order for a 33-year-old man being held as a suspect for the murder of 37-year-old, Poli Potamiti and 30-year-old army contract officer Panicos Prodromou.
The investigating officer explained there would be a number of searches for specific places and people that may be relevant with the two murders over the next 12 hours and that if the suspect was released, it is possible to affect important evidence that may be found.
The suspect was arrested based on a written testimony, according to which, the Limassol man was identified as the getaway driver for the hit man who killed Panicos Prodromou.
In the case of Polis Potamitis, the accused was identified by a friend, who had been told by Potamitis himself, as one of five people who had been following him for a number of fays before his murder.
A 38-year-old from Nicosia is also being held, while another three persons who were also following Potamitis have left the country. European arrest warrants have been issued for them.
Bike fee
THE CYPRUS Cycling Federation yesterday criticised the police for demanding a fee in order to policing a major bicycle event taking place next Sunday.
The Federation believes the presence of traffic police is a necessity and within their duties to help the race go smoothly and safely, so as to prevent any accidents that might happen.
They have stated that the race will go on with or without the police present and should anything happen, the police should take their share of responsibility.
The Federation calls on all drivers to be extra careful and show the required patience so as not to endanger the athletes in any way on the day.
Police blitz
A TWO-day blitz by the members of the Z-Squad in Paphos, yielded a total of 401 offenders.
In the 48-hour period from October 5-7, 279 were reported for driving over the speed limit, 31 for not using their seat belt while driving, 29 for talking on their mobile phones while driving, 16 passengers for not using their seat belt, 10 motorcyclists for not wearing a safety helmet and 36 reports for other offences.
Also, during the campaign, the members of Z-Squad provided electrical or mechanical help to drivers who experienced trouble with their vehicles.
On one occasion they also provided first aid to a driver who suffered from hypoglycaemia and asthma and then transported him to the Paphos general hospital for further treatment.
Cruise visit
PAPHOS saw its first-ever cruise ship visit yesterday as the Portuguese-flagged liner Athena anchored off Kato Paphos. The 160m long ship was en route from Rhodes to Alexandria in Egypt and stopped off for several hours off the Paphos coast, allowing its 423 passengers, mostly French, German and British to go ashore and spend some time on the island.
Kofinou’s animal problems
THE KOFINOU community is up in arms yesterday after hearing about a planned animal waste incinerator that is being planned for the Kofinou district.
The president of the Community Council of Kofinou, Yiannis Loutsios, said he expected the response from the residents of the Kofinou area should be a powerful one.
Loutsios complained that the government continues to move with decisions, without considering the local councils.
Kofinou, and any community that might be affected, will respond back by any means necessary, because the environment in this area will have a heavy burden on its shoulders if it somehow becomes industrial, he said.
Meanwhile, another problem has arisen with the creation of an animal dumping ground in Kofinou. The situation has been deemed unacceptable by the residents, who say they are watching clients pay £800 a month just to dig holes and bury the dead animals, without any cooperation from farmers
Residents say that despite the numerous pleadings to move the animals, the government simply declines, saying that it would be too expensive.
Checkpoint stop
POLICE yesterday blocked four Turkish Bulgarian immigrants from entering the south.
According to police spokesman, Demetris Demetriou, four men and a woman attempted to cross from Ledra Palace checkpoint but were forbidden.
According to information, the four men had Turkish Cypriot identity cards and Bulgarian passports, while the woman only had a Bulgarian passport.
After a brief investigation, police discovered that she had been living in the northern part of Cyprus for about eight years and had a Turkish Cypriot nationality.
