Man suspected of robbing church and attacking priest

A MAN was yesterday remanded for five days by a Nicosia Court on suspicion of attempting to burgle a church and attacking a priest.

The thin, bearded 35-year-old man from Georgia is set to be charged by Nicosia CID with four counts of attempted burglary and assault. His defence lawyer did not object to the prosecution’s request for a five-day remand.

Investigating Constable Stefanos Ioannou of Nicosia CID told the court, “On Sunday, May 14 at the Pallouriotissa Church, three men were seen within the church grounds. The priest of the church had noticed two men begging. When he approached them, he noticed another man enter the church.”

According to the constable, the priest followed the man into the church and noticed him trying to take money out of the charity box. When he asked what he was doing, the man told him he was praying. When the priest told him that he saw him stealing, the man approached the priest, threatened him and then pushed him to the floor.

In his fear, the priest ran out of the church crying for help. A passer-by heard him and both he and the priest went back into the church and grabbed the man as he broke a window and attempted to jump out.

They held him there until arresting officers arrived at the church.

The other two men, begging outside the church, are currently being sought by police in connection with assisting the suspect.

Judge Angelos David said that the strong material witnesses against the suspect and the defence’s acceptance of the prosecution’s request led him to the conclusion that the five-day remand was correct.

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