Woman accused of selling Greek Cypriot property in north sees bail bid rejected
A 49-year-old German national who stands accused of selling Greek Cypriot property in the north had her request for bail denied by the court of appeal on Friday. The woman had requested to be released pending the beginning of her trial on Sept
A 49-year-old German national who stands accused of selling Greek Cypriot property in the north had her request for bail denied by the court of appeal on Friday.
The woman had requested to be released pending the beginning of her trial on September 17, but the court of appeal on Friday found that the court of the first instance, the Nicosia district court, had “reasonably and correctly exercised its discretion” when it ordered that she be held in custody until her trial.
The woman is set to face a total of 56 charges when her trial begins in September, including the undertaking of fraudulent transactions and the illegal possession and use of land.
The case brought against her states that she, along with others, used, advertised, and promoted the sale of property owned by Greek Cypriots in Ayios Amvrosios, a village in the Kyrenia district.
She also faces one count of money laundering related to the above activities.
At the court of first instance, the prosecution had requested that the woman be held in custody until her trial begins, based off the risk that she may not appear at her trial.
They had pointed out that evidence had arisen to suggest that the woman is the founder and director of a company based in Germany which advertises and promotes houses located in tourist complexes in Ayios Amvrosios, which have been constructed on property belonging to Greek Cypriots.
They also pointed out that the woman’s links to Cyprus are limited to property ownership in areas not under the Republic’s control, which, they said, increases the risk of her absconding.
The defence had objected to this as they argued that the charges she faces are “not particularly serious” and carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
The court of first instance had found that the woman has “no special ties to Cyprus” and “no personal circumstances which would prevent her from absconding”, other than the necessity for her to be in Germany for the purpose of operating her company.
Her appeal had pointed out the fact that she speaks neither English nor Greek, and thus it would be “logical” for a request for bail to be filed.
It also argued that her circumstances were “not taken into consideration” and that the court of first instance “failed to recognise the fact that [her] entire life and company will be ruined if she remains in custody, as she is the sole shareholder and employee.”
Evaluating the case, the court of appeal decided that “in this case, we find that the seriousness of the offences which the appellant is a given.”
This, they said, arises not only from the severity of the maximum sentence, but “from the very nature of the offences related to trespassing on Greek Cypriot properties as a result of the Turkish invasion and the 50 years of illegal occupation of a large part of our homeland by the Turkish occupying troops.”
The woman was arrested while attempting to board an outbound flight from Larnaca airport earlier this month.
Having reportedly spoken about selling property in the north to an off-duty police officer during her inbound flight, the officer in question then reportedly told a colleague and an investigation was launched.
The first officer reportedly informed the woman that selling property in the north was illegal, something to which she did not respond.
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