Four more wanted in Limassol sexual crime case

Police on Wednesday announced the arrest for sexual crimes of the 64-year-old man involved in the Limassol investigation, which had started off last week with the man reporting to authorities that he had been robbed by teens. The case has pivo

By: cyprus-mail.com

Aug 28 2024
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Four more wanted in Limassol s

Police on Wednesday announced the arrest for sexual crimes of the 64-year-old man involved in the Limassol investigation, which had started off last week with the man reporting to authorities that he had been robbed by teens.

The case has pivoted with the man now arrested based on six charges, including sexual abuse, assault and abduction.

The four-day delay in the man’s arrest was due to the sensitive nature of the case with police seeking to secure testimony against him, police spokesman Christos Andreou told the CyBC.

The man is currently being held under guard at a private hospital where he was arrested, having gone to the premises for a medical intervention which was not carried out.

He is expected to be brought before the Limassol district court for closed door proceedings within the day.

The case has been split into two investigations, one concerning the man’s filing a report of robbery and the other concerning his relationship with three young girls, following testimony secured against him by an 18-year-old woman, who had initially been uncooperative, Andreou said.

Four additional arrest warrants have meanwhile been issued for the case, for three adults in their 20s and one 17-year-old, police said. The latter has been arrested and taken into custody overnight.

Three girls had been previously arrested, and on Tuesday police also obtained warrants for two young men who had accompanied the girls, aged 15, 16 and 18, to site where the man was allegedly robbed and attacked.

The two girls initially arrested, aged 15 and 16, were being treated as vulnerable individuals and are now under the observation of a psychiatrist called in by the police.

They are expected to give videotaped testimonies on what happened.

According to the initial reports, the 64-year-old man had been lured around the back of a fast-food restaurant, after meeting with the 16-year-old girl in his hotel. He was there met by four other young people who arrived in a car.

The 64-year-old said he was punched in the face, and that his wallet, which contained €5,000 in cash and his identity card, was stolen.

Commissioner for Children’s Rights Despo Michaelidou has requested a report from all services involved in the case.

If the teenage girls are to be prosecuted, she said, strict procedures must be adhered to and the girls should be provided with all the necessary support.