By Charlie Charalambous
A MAN was shot dead on the streets of Limassol yesterday morning, prompting Justice Minister Nicos Koshis to concede that police could do little to prevent a new wave of gangland killings.
The minister’s frankness about an unavoidable “gangland war” came in the wake of what police described as a “professional hit” on 33-year-old George Ioannou.
Ioannou, alias Kotsoudkias, was shot over 20 times as he left a Limassol cabaret with a Ukrainian stripper at 5.15am yesterday, police said.
“We had a murder this morning; as we said, it seems to be gangs settling their accounts and it looks set to continue,” Koshis said after the shooting.
“The murder is connected to a gangland war in Limassol to eliminate rivals… and we can’t rule out the likelihood of more murders.”
Asked whether this latest outbreak of violence was a serious problem for the police, he conceded: “It’s not easy for the police to keep track of everyone.”
Police believe yesterday’s killer patiently waited for his victim, hiding in a nearby building before opening fire with an automatic weapon.
“It was a well-planned professional shooting,” said Limassol police chief Miltiades Neocleous.
Although rushed to Limassol hospital for emergency surgery, Ioannou died from fatal wounds to the chest and stomach 20 minutes later.
Police said the gunman “vanished” from the scene with the assistance of a getaway driver.
The Ukrainian woman, who was unharmed in the shooting, was later questioned by police.
Investigators said the only motive for the killing was the ongoing wave of mafia vendettas.
Police spokesman Glafcos Xenos did little to raise morale when he confessed: “We are fumbling in the dark a bit.”
What investigators do know is that Ioannou was a close friend of Tassos Simellides. He left the island last December with a new identity after turning state’s evidence against the Aeroporos brothers.
Despite his testimony, Hambis, Andros and Panicos Aeroporos were acquitted in June last year over the attempted murder of Larnaca club owner Antonis Fanieros. A criminal court deemed Simellides as an unreliable witness.
The acquittal triggered a string of underworld killings mainly targeting the Aeroporos clan and their associates.
Weeks after walking free, Andros was shot dead outside a Limassol night club; his elder brother Hambis suffered the same fate last December.
A Czech-made M58 uncovered at the scene of Hambis’ assassination is believed to be the same used in the hit on Andros.
Two policemen are among five suspects charged in connection with Hambis’ murder.
Yesterday’s victim Ioannou and Simellides had previously been sentenced to 18 months jail on pimping charges.
Ioannou, who ran a Limassol bar owned by Simellides, had also been known to police as a suspected drug pusher.
Limassol CID said yesterday they wanted to question a 27-year-old man, recently released from prison, in connection with the murder.
