Turks remand boat couple for two days

THE TURKISH Cypriot side yesterday remanded a couple for two days and were still holding a Greek Cypriot man after making four arrests during two separate incidents in the space of 24 hours.

On Friday afternoon a Turkish patrol boat seized a man and a woman in a small pleasure craft off Paralimni, and later in the day Turkish Cypriots arrested two Greek Cypriots after finding shotgun cartridges in their car after they had crossed to the north.

UNFICYP, which has been trying to secure the release of the detainees, said yesterday the man and woman had been remanded for two days. Officials had no information on the man being held in connection with the second incident.

In the earlier incident on Friday Alexis Constantinou, 36, the son of Kikis Constantinou, the owner of Nissi Beach Hotel in Ayia Napa, and a British female companion were arrested after their small boat allegedly crossed the Maritime Security Line (MSL) at around 5pm.

The MSL is the seaward extension of the island’s buffer zone, which is clearly marked and is constantly patrolled by Turkish navy vessels. The boat and its occupants were escorted to the port of occupied Famagusta.

The other two Greek Cypriots arrested have been named as Kyriacos Evagoras and Chrysostomos Philippou, both 47, from Vrysoulles in the Famagusta district. Evagoras was later released without charge, but Philippou was still being held yesterday.

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