Akhter brothers ‘spotted in casino in the north’

TWO brothers on the run for seriously injuring four policemen have been spotted in a casino in the north according to reports yesterday.

Larnaca Press reported that brothers Giorgos and Elias Akhtar were seen enjoying a night out in a casino in occupied Nicosia.

A police source confirmed the information had been received, though no official statement was made.

The authorities are now convinced that the siblings, who have been on the run for a fortnight after attacking four Drug Squad officers with swords when their home was raided for drugs and weapons are hiding in the north.

Their suspicions were further fuelled by the arrest of two men last week, caught attempting to cross over to the occupied areas with personal documents and belongings of the Akhtar brothers.

The men denied any involvement, though the police found in their possession two passports hidden inside a CD case bearing the names of Giorgios and Elias Akhtar.

They also found a laptop with Giorgos Akhtar’s student card hidden inside, as well as other personal items belonging to the brothers.

The two men have denied any wrongdoing, saying some of the items found in their car were left there by the Akhtar brothers, with whom they are believed to be close friends, and some other friends.

Giorgos, 28, and 23-year-old Elias have been on the run since Friday before last, when the attack took place.

The brothers have managed to maintain some kind of communication with the authorities through letters sent to Simerini newspaper.

They have expressed fear over what may happen to them if they hand themselves in, despite receiving reassurances from the Justice Minister that they would be fairly treated.

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.