Road rage beating in Limassol
FIVE MEN from Limassol, aged between 19 and 20 are on remand in relation to a gang assault against a 35-yer-old man from Limassol, who was violently beaten for tooting the horn of his car, police said yesterday.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday at Ayios Tychonas in Limassol. According to the 35-year-old’s statement to police he was driving along the main tourist area road when he noticed some cars moving at a very low speed. The man wanted to overtake the cars and tooted the horn of his car to alert the other drivers.
This action, however, was perceived as an insult by the other drivers, who followed the 35-year-old until he parked his car to go into a kiosk. Upon exiting the kiosk he saw that three vehicles were parked outside from where ten youths got out. The youths surrounded the man and started beating him and swearing at him. After hitting him all over his body, the gang abandoned their victim on the ground and fled the scene.
The victim was taken to Limassol General Hospital where doctors confirmed that he sustained cuts and bruises all over his body, as well as a broken arm. The 35-year-old reported the incident to police and gave a description of his attackers and their vehicles. Based on this information arrested seven men from Limassol aged between 19 and 20-years-old. Five of these suspects were taken before Limassol District Court, which issued a two-day remand order. The suspects are due to be released today, pending a trial.
Open event on police beatings
THE CITIZENS’ Initiative ALERT is inviting the public to an open event this Friday to mark the start of the court appeal regarding the case of the ten police officers who were acquitted of beating up two students.
The event will be held at 6pm this Friday at Phaneromeni School in old Nicosia. There will be an open discussion, photo exhibition, video projections, music and other activities.
Members of the Citizens Initiative ALERT will participate, as well as representatives of social groups that ALERT says have fallen victim to police oppression.
“We believe that the beating of the students and how the 10 police officers were proved innocent by the court is only a small sample of the system’s corruption. We are closely watching how the case of the ten police officers evolves, and we invite people to join the discussion on state oppression and judiciary corruption,” said a press release.
The appeal against the acquittal is due to start on September 14, 2009.
Motorcycle arson
TWO motorcycles were set on fire in an arson attack in Limassol at 3am yesterday. The moped and motorbike were locked together in a parking area on the ground floor of an apartment building. A resident managed to extinguish the fire before the fire brigade arrived.
Investigations of the scene by the police and fire departments revealed that the fire had been set with malicious intent, using a flammable substance.
The extent of the damage to both vehicles has not yet been assessed. Limassol CID is investigating.
School vandalism
THE HALL of a Nicosia school building was set on fire around 8.30pm on Sunday. From their investigations at the scene, police believe that the school building was broken into some time between September 4 and 6. An unknown person smashed four windows of the school hall and later set fire to it. The fire damage is estimated at €700. Nicosia CID is investigating the incident.
Road death
AN 85-YEAR-OLD man has died in hospital following a car accident. Papagis Savvas died at around 10pm on Saturday in Larnaca General Hospital, while being treated for injuries sustained in car crash on September 3. The duty doctor cited the cause of death as a brain haemorrhage which occurred before the car crash took place. The Kitiou Police are investigating.
Couple attacked
A BULGARIAN couple were attacked at a nightclub in the centre of Larnaca on Sunday night.
The 44-year-old and 41-year-old couple were attacked and beaten by a drunk 26-year-old man of the same nationality.
The 26-year-old approached the couple for no apparent reason, shouting and causing a commotion. When the woman got up to ask him for an explanation he punched her in the face. Her husband was attacked when he intervened to protect her.
The couple were treated for their injuries at the First Aid Department of Larnaca General Hospital.
According to Police spokesman Christos Andreou a man was arrested at 11pm on Sunday by Larnaca CID.
The Larnaca District Court approved the detention of the Bulgarian for 2 days to facilitate the police investigation.
Chinese prostitutes
SEVEN CHINESE women were arrested in Larnaca on Sunday on charges of prostitution.
The arrests were made in a campaign to combat prostitution in urban shopping centres.
Between 8.30am and midday on Sunday the Aliens and Immigration Department, together with Larnaca police, made a series of arrests in Skala. A total of 6 asylum seekers and one resident from China were detained.
According to police spokesman Christos Andreou proceedings are underway to declare the seven women as ‘persona non grata’ and have them deported “on the first possible plane”.
Evidence so far has revealed that the women each received between €30 and €50 for her services, offered in hotel rooms in central Larnaca.
