One more body theft suspect still at large

AUTHORITIES are looking for a fourth suspect in connection with the theft of former president Tassos Papadopoulos’ body, recovered earlier this month, a court heard yesterday.

Police have three suspects in connection with the theft of Papadopoulos’ remains, including convicted murderer and rapist Antonis Prokopiou Kitas who is thought to to be the mastermind.

A court yesterday ordered the detention for a further eight days of Indian national Sabrjit Singh, 31, and Kita’s 48-year-old brother Mamas.

All three have admitted to carrying out the theft, though police are investigating certain claims the convict made, the court heard.

Singh also named a fourth suspect whom police are seeking for questioning.

It has been alleged that Kitas wanted to exchange the remains for an early release either through a presidential pardon or through the parole board.

The body was found in an existing grave at a cemetery not far from Deftera, where Papadopoulos was buried.

The location had been revealed by Singh who had asked the family for money in exchange.

Police have said that no money had changed hands.

The gruesome theft of the former president’s body on the eve of the first anniversary of his death shocked Cyprus and made headlines around the world.

Certain circles suggested the act was political just hours after the discovery of the empty grave.

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.