Paroled drug offender arrested in Limassol attempted murder case

One of two people remanded in custody in connection with an attempted murder in Limassol had recently been released on parole while serving a drug-related sentence, reports said on Friday. The suspects, a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old woma

By: cyprus-mail.com

Jan 03 2025
22
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Paroled drug offender arrested

One of two people remanded in custody in connection with an attempted murder in Limassol had recently been released on parole while serving a drug-related sentence, reports said on Friday.

The suspects, a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, were arrested after a 39-year-old man was shot in the leg on Monday night in the Ayia Phyla suburb.

During a court hearing on Thursday, a police representative revealed that a “large quantity” of drugs had been found in the man’s home following a search conducted after the shooting. Based on testimony implicating the 25-year-old, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police conducted a search on Tuesday at the man’s house, during which 2,435kgs of cannabis, 940 grammes of cannabis resin, 105 grammes of cocaine, a full firearm cartridge, and €1,575 and $200 in cash were located and seized.

It emerged on Friday that the 25-year-old man of Egyptian descent and raised in Cyprus, had been paroled after serving part of a seven-year sentence handed down in February 2022 for possession with intent to supply 412.8 grammes of cocaine. He had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Under the parole system, each year of imprisonment is effectively reduced to nine months. This meant his sentence, which began in May 2020 during pre-trial detention, would have lasted five years and three months. After serving half his sentence, he applied for parole, which was granted in 2024 under certain conditions.

Reports in the Greek-language press, citing sources, said that during the process of examining the parole request, the convicted man had attributed his involvement in the drugs case to a bad decision and assured the board he would not reoffend.

His clean record prior to 2020 was also considered during his sentencing in 2022.

Following the attempted murder and his suspected involvement, questions are now being raised about the conditions set for granting parole.