Turkish Cypriot remanded in arms bust

IN A CASE that authorities confirmed may be related to the investigation of Michalis Kakathymis’ murder, 40-year-old Turkish Cypriot Murat Ziya is on remand in relation to the arms found in the possession of a 29-year-old man from Nicosia on Wednesday evening.

The 40-year-old was stopped at Larnaca Airport at 1am yesterday as he was about to catch a flight for Munich. His arrest was enabled by information the 29-year-old gave police.

According to the younger man the Turkish Cypriot last week asked him to go to the north and bring two pistols, one of which was the 9mm Beretta found in his possession on Wednesday night when he was arrested.

The 29-year-old was instructed to deliver the arms to a petrol station in Limassol. He also claimed that the Turkish Cypriot told him that if anything went wrong he would flee abroad.

Meanwhile the 29-year-old expressed a fear for his life, both from the intended recipient of the guns, as well as the Turkish Cypriot and his associates.

The Turkish Cypriot is believed to have been involved in the supply of arms to the underworld and police are not ruling out a connection between the man and the recent gangland-related murders in Limassol.

“There was information that more executions were planned. We are investigating whether there is a connection between the two cases but we cannot announce anything until we are certain,” Minister of Justice Loucas Louca said yesterday.

The Turkish Cypriot suspect, who was released last April after serving an eight-year prison term for drug dealing, has been residing in the south of the island.

He is reportedly wanted by authorities in the north over his involvement in arms dealing cases there.

In his statement to police the Turkish Cypriot denied any involvement in the case and claimed that he was only acquainted with the 29-year-old through work. A ballistic test will determine whether the guns were used in any recent criminal activity.

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