POLICE ARE now convinced that a middle-aged Paphos man who went missing for four days last week must have faked his kidnapping, although the motives are still unclear.
Detectives now know that the man had been staying at a relative’s house since at least last Saturday.
The 57-year-old was yesterday remanded in custody after having been arrested Monday on suspicion of causing public harm.
Giorgos Ellinas, 57 was reported missing by his family last Thursday. When he re-emerged this Monday, he claimed to have been abducted by four persons – three men and a woman. According to Elinas, his kidnappers wanted information from him on a major shipment of contraband goods.
Before his disappearance Ellinas, a civil servant, had last been seen arguing with four individuals near the Paphos municipal market. His moped was later found abandoned at an open parking lot. For this reason, police think he may have initially been nabbed, but believe the rest of his claims to be pure fiction.
Initially Ellinas told police he had been forced into a car at gunpoint by men he had never seen before. He also said that his kidnappers had treated him well during his captivity, and categorically denied that his abduction was in any way related to online gambling or debts to money-lenders.
Under questioning, the man’s story became more elaborate. Police have now confirmed that Ellinas was staying with relatives in the village of Mamonia since at least last Saturday. Ellinas initially denied being at Mamonia, but later changed his story when confronted with this piece of information. He now says he was released on the morning of that day, after which he made his way to Mamonia on foot – a distance that takes about half an hour to travel by car.
According to the alleged abductee, on Thursday his kidnappers drove him to the village of Chlorakas, where they threatened him.
But police believe he is lying about this: footage secured from a CCTV camera from Thursday evening does show Ellinas being in the area, but he is on his own. The camera is installed outside a tourist apartment complex in the area.
Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that Ellinas may have been taken for a few hours, but believe very little of what the man has said.
