Police trainee remanded in arson probe

A MMAD trainee was remanded in custody yesterday in connection with a spate of fires set on Sunday night.

Marcos Georgiades of Kaimakli, who was training to join the elite rapid reaction squad of the police, was arrested yesterday at around 11.30am. It is thought that he set fire to weeds and grass at around 25 points in the buffer zone.

Investigating officer Andreas Naoum told Famagusta District Court that at several times on Sunday night, Georgiades was seen at different points in the buffer zone.

At around 3.45am on Monday morning, his car was seen moving suspiciously at Xylotymbou, where it came to a violent halt outside a house. The homeowner saw Georgiades acting suspiciously and called the police.

Georgiades went willingly to the police station, where he was questioned and his car searched. In the vehicle, police found three lighters and a shirt with burn marks on it.

Naoum said the suspect had readily admitted to starting the fires and had asked to see a psychiatrist, saying he suffered from psychological problems.

But in his testimony in court Georgiades denied setting the fires, claiming he had seen someone else set them and had chased him. Losing his way, he said he stumbled into the buffer zone and the occupied area, where the Turks started shooting at him.

He said he had then managed to escape to the British bases, but had been chased by another Turkish policeman who pursued him to Xylotymbou.

He was remanded for eight days.

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