Turks drop charge against Matsakis

A DISTRICT court in the occupied areas yesterday decided to drop charges against MEP Marios Matsakis, who was accused of stealing a Turkish flag from a disused Turkish guard post in Louroujina.

During the hearing, at which Matsakis was not present, the prosecutor said that because Matsakis was not a citizen of the ‘TRNC’ and because he was not present at the hearing, the best thing would be to drop the charges against him.

The judge agreed, but stressed that should Matsaki visits the occupied areas again, the case against him could be reopened.

The case dates back to last November, when Matsakis ventured into the buffer zone and snatched the Turkish flag from an observation post near Louroujina.

His action earned little sympathy from the government, which accused him of endangering national security.

The Turkish Cypriot authorities later issued a warrant for his arrest, which was executed when Matsakis tried to cross north take seasonal gifts to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on New Year’s Eve.

He was held for three days in custody in the north before being released on bail.

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