POLICE yesterday admitted they do not have any concrete leads in their search for a Limassol lawyer and his wife, who fled the island after defrauding 13 people and over 100 businesses out of more than three million pounds.
International and European arrest warrants have been issued against Marios Shiaeles, 38, and Niki Fasaria, with rumours circulating that the couple, along with their baby girl, could be in the north, Turkey, Greece, Albania or Bulgaria.
The pair are both lawyers from Limassol. They are believed to have fled the country in early October 2006, allegedly taking client funds with them. Victims cover at least seven different nationalities.
Howard Cox, who has lost some £200,000, has been working with some of the other victims to try and locate the couple.
A website containing pictures and information on the couple has been created by several of their victims and can be accessed at www.cypruscrookedlawyers.com.
“I would encourage anybody with any information about either of them to use the e-mail link on the website to provide the information to the group,” Cox said. “All communications will be kept confidential. There is also a voice box where people can leave a message on +44 845 868 6384.
A reward of £10,000 is being offered for information leading to their apprehension.
A Cyprus Police spokeswoman yesterday told the Mail that, “initial investigations into the complaints have now been completed, with the file now with the Attorney-general.”
Cox himself has said he has been in touch with an assistant to the Chief of Police, “who informed me that no further progress has been made on the case”.
He added: “We have had several responses on our website that we are following up and we believe the Shiaeles’ young daughter may have some form of cancer and needs specialist medical treatment somewhere in Europe.
“We are concerned that as Shiaeles is wanted by Interpol, his daughter may not be getting the necessary medical care.”
According to Cox, Shiaeles’ parents may be in contact with their son on a daily basis. A neighbour of Fasaria has also confirmed two sightings of her driving near her former home between March and May 2007 (close to, and in the direction of, her mother and sister’s house).
“It has almost been a year since Marios fled Cyprus and to date the police are no closer to finding him and the stolen millions. I am shocked that Limassol police have not once contacted the victims to inform us of their progress.
“It is also amazing that other victims have not come forward or have been advised by their lawyers not to discuss their case with others. Surely if we all worked together as a team we would have a much greater chance of success.”
He added that the Cypriot judiciary “must ensure that justice is delivered to the victims rather than the legal process hindering us and ultimately protecting the criminals”.
Cox also said that Shiaeles still has assets in Cyprus that could be seized and sold to help repay the victims.
“The courts are insisting that Shiaeles be found first before they will allow his assets to be sold. Based on this logic, if the police cannot find Shiaeles, justice will never be served and he walks free with millions of pounds of stolen money.”
??
??
??
??
