Men arrested for impersonating police officers

Four men were remanded in custody for 24 hours on Saturday in connection with a series of offences including assault, car theft and impersonating police officers that took place last month in the Famagusta district.

The four, three locals, aged 29, 34 and 48, and a 35-year-old Albanian, were arrested earlier on Saturday.

On Monday, a 60-year-old man reported to Famagusta CID that on June 23 he tried to drive to a beach in Ayia Napa but he found the road blocked with rocks and earth.

The man saw a crew carrying out earthmoving work in the coastal zone and demanded to know if they had permission from the authorities to close the walkway.

The 60-year-old took out his mobile phone to take photos of the scene but two individuals grabbed his phone and the car keys.

Shortly afterwards, a car salesman, 48, and two others arrived on the scene, pretending to be police officers.

The man claimed he was shoved into a car and threatened. He told police that he was forced to sign a statement saying he sold them his mobile phone. The suspects dropped the man at his house and left.

He went back to the area seeking his car, which was nowhere to be found. It was later located by the police and taken for forensic examination.

Police searched the 48-year-old’s business but could not find anything or anyone. Meanwhile a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Last Monday, two CID officers went to Vrysoules to search property belonging to the suspect.

During the search, in the presence of his brother, three individuals, the Albanian and two brothers, arrived at the scene and started verbally abusing and pushing the officers who were forced to leave.

The three men got into their car and left the area.

They, along with the 48-year-old, were arrested early on Saturday morning.

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