Biker accused of running down officer, fleeing scene, loses court challenge

Local justiceLarnacapoliceTop News Biker accused of running down officer, fleeing scene, loses court challenge Supreme Court Leaves Dozens Of Widows Without Pensions In Post Retirement Marriage Ruling Relevant News Biker accused of running down officer, fleeing scene, loses court challenge 20 August 2026 COP31: Ankara’s Cyprus snub triggers Brussels warning 20 August 2026 Fine weather expected Thursday, highs of 38C inland 20 August 2026 newsroom 20 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber A motorcyclist accused of running down a police officer in front of a crowd in Larnaca, then fleeing on a bike with no registration plates, has lost his bid to have his arrest warrant thrown out. The Supreme Court rejected the man’s application, and he now faces eight charges. The man had sought leave to file a certiorari application, a legal process that asks a higher court to quash a lower court’s decision, aiming to overturn an arrest warrant issued on August 1, 2026 by Larnaca District Court. The Supreme Court dismissed his application, finding sufficient grounds existed for a reasonable suspicion that he was involved in a series of offences, including assault on a police officer causing actual bodily harm. The case centres on an incident on July 31, 2026, at around 7:35pm in Larnaca. According to evidence put before the court, two officers from Larnaca Traffic Police’s Group Z were carrying out a road check when they spotted two large-capacity scooters whose riders were not wearing helmets. The officers signalled both riders to stop. One reportedly mounted the pavement and left the scene, while the second, identified by police as the applicant, allegedly accelerated and attempted to continue on. In trying to get away, he reportedly collided head-on with an officer, who had no time to move clear and fell to the ground. According to a sworn affidavit put before the District Court, the collision happened in full view of a crowd of onlookers. The motorcycle, still carrying no registration plates, allegedly continued on without stopping. The officer was taken by ambulance to Larnaca’s Accident and Emergency Department, where he was found to have injuries to his wrist and left ankle joint, and was referred for further tests, including a CT scan and an MRI. The applicant is being investigated over a total of eight offences, among them leaving the scene of an accident without offering assistance, careless and reckless conduct, assault on a police officer and deliberate obstruction of an officer’s duties, assault causing actual bodily harm, failing to comply with a police signal, and driving without a licence, without a helmet and without a registration plate. Before the Supreme Court, the applicant argued that the warrant had been issued in excess of jurisdiction, saying the evidence presented was not enough to establish reasonable suspicion that he had committed the offences. He specifically challenged the officer’s report that the motorcycle rider had been “identified as the suspect,” arguing it was a generic, conclusory statement without sufficient evidentiary basis. The Supreme Court found no arguable case had been shown to justify granting certiorari. It noted that the evidentiary threshold required for an arrest warrant is limited, and does not involve a final assessment of the evidence or proof of the charges themselves. In this case, the court found the evidence before the District Court was sufficient to establish reasonable suspicion. Particular weight was given to the fact that the rider was not wearing a helmet, which allowed his features to be observed, as well as the close contact that occurred during the collision with the officer. The Supreme Court also considered it significant that, despite the motorcycle carrying no registration plates, police had already identified the applicant and sought him at his declared home address before applying to the court for the arrest warrant. The judge concluded that the applicant’s connection to the offences under investigation had been sufficiently established for the purposes of issuing an arrest warrant, and dismissed the application. No order for costs was made. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News COP31: Ankara’s Cyprus snub triggers Brussels warning Fine weather expected Thursday, highs of 38C inland Cyprus disability benefits rise 10%, backdated to January Cyprus pension reform explained: What’s proposed and what happens next Overnight pharmacies on Wednesday, August 19 Cyprus says it raised precautionary measures, after FT report over possible Iranian attacks Labour Ministry to investigate hotel worker-leasing allegations Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.