A SUSPECTED drug dealer yesterday told a Nicosia Court that he had been beaten by Drug Squad (YKAN) officers after he was arrested.
The 19-year-old man from Nicosia was arrested along with his 30-year-old brother in the Dali area on Wednesday after police found 376 grams of heroin on them.
The older brother, who the court heard was a heroin addict, had reportedly told officers in a confession that the drugs were for personal use.
According to the YKAN investigator in the case, the brothers are under investigation for illegal possession of a class ‘A’ drug with intent to sell.
But during the remand hearing of the two yesterday, defence lawyer Giorgos Kazantzis informed the court that YKAN officers had beaten the younger brother.
The 19-year-old appeared in court yesterday with a black eye. A doctor had earlier examined him and reportedly confirmed to Kazantzis that the teenager had sustained some injuries to his face.
Despite pleas from the lawyer for the suspects to be immediately released because of the incident, the judge informed them that the defence’s position on any possible assault would be taken into consideration by the court.
In such hearings the court does not have the authority to examine any possible claims of assault, with the judge adding that there was reasonable suspicion against the two suspects.
Both men were then ordered to remain in police custody for eight days.
According to police, both men were placed under surveillance after a tip-off that they were bringing in drugs from the north and selling them in the south.
During yesterday’s hearing, the court had heard how the younger brother, who was a motorbike, had met with his brother, who had arrived with a car, close to the village of Lympia and just shy of the Green Line.
At some point, the investigator claimed, the motorbike drove off into the area of the Green Line and later returned.
When officers approached the two vehicles, the car sped off but the motorcyclist was stopped. Police found the drugs in a bag he had over his shoulder.
His older brother was later arrested at his home.
Commenting on the arrest yesterday was YKAN Commander Charalambos Ioannou who said, “We are certain that heroin was being supplied from people in the occupied areas for addicts in the south.”
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