By Athena Karsera
POLICE made a fourth arrest linked to the recent bank robbery in Ypsonas as part of a sweep of the city yesterday.
Driver Stelios Costas Christou, 26, was arrested at his Kivides home at 7am. He had been one of the first people originally questioned in connection with last week’s robbery.
Christou had been finger-printed at Limassol police headquarters on Monday afternoon, and his arrest came yesterday after his prints were matched to those found on a motor-bike linked to the robbery. The bike was reported stolen the day before the robbery and was later found abandoned.
Christou appeared in court just before noon yesterday and was remanded for eight days.
The police investigating officer told the Limassol Court that Christou was suspected of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing a motorcycle.
He said there was a witness account connecting Christou with all three charges.
Christou had earlier told police he had nothing to do with the robbery and had never touched the get-away bike.
His home and those belonging to the three other men already arrested in connection to the hold-up were amongst those searched by police during yesterday’s sweep.
Panicos Chrysostomou, 19, Herodotos Petasis, 34, and Pantelis Ioannou, 26, were arrested the day after the robbery. The trio were remanded in custody last Friday.
Two masked men were involved in the February 25 robbery in Ypsonas, fleeing the Bank of Cyprus branch on a red Yamaha motorbike. They were then seen in a Fiat Mirafiori, which Petasis was later seen driving.
Police have failed to find the stolen cash – £19,400 – or the guns and helmets used during the raid.
Police sources yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that the sweep fell within the framework of the fight against organised crime and involved approximately 80 officers, including elements from the riot and flying squad.
The operation, which ended just before noon and is expected to continue today, covered Limassol town and the surrounding villages of Episkopi, Erimi and Kivides.
The Limassol duty officer yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that police had searched the homes, shops or cars of six people yesterday.
He said no weapons or explosives had been found during the searches, but that several objects were confiscated as evidence.
