Brazilian pair remain in custody over Kornos fire after appeal rejected

Local CrimefireLarnacaTop News Brazilian pair remain in custody over Kornos fire after appeal rejected Pyrosvestiki Brady Relevant News Brazilian pair remain in custody over Kornos fire after appeal rejected 17 September 2026 Cyprus to use Digital Citizen for social media age checks 17 September 2026 Erhurman: conditions for new 5+1 meeting “not yet met”, heads to New York September 23 17 September 2026 Panayiota Charalambous 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Two Brazilian nationals accused of setting off fireworks that sparked a fire in Kornos will remain in custody after Cyprus’ Court of Appeal unanimously rejected their challenge to a detention order. The 27-year-old man and 29-year-old woman are due to appear before Larnaca Criminal Court on October 21, 2026, on a series of serious charges, including arson, attempted arson, causing a fire in a state forest and reckless and negligent acts. They also face three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and one of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour. According to evidence presented before the first-instance court, the two defendants, who live in Limassol, travelled to Kornos on August 2, 2026, where they allegedly bought a lighter and fountain-type fireworks from a kiosk. They are alleged to have placed and lit the fireworks in a nearby field, setting dry grass alight. Passing motorists saw smoke, stopped and tried to extinguish the fire. According to the court ruling, the two defendants got into their car laughing when they saw the motorists. The woman is also alleged to have approached the scene holding a bottle of water but refused to give it to a person who was trying to put out the fire, according to the evidence before the court. The director of the Forestry Department described the area as being at high risk of fire, with dry vegetation, shrubs and extensive pine forests. The first-instance court found there was a “visible prospect of conviction”, while also saying that a reasonable prospect of acquittal could not be excluded. It said the defendants’ claims and the defence’s arguments over weaknesses in the evidence should be assessed at trial rather than during proceedings over their detention. The main issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the two defendants posed a flight risk. The lower court had found that their personal and professional ties to Cyprus were not strong enough to counter that risk. Both are Brazilian nationals and have lived in Cyprus for relatively short periods. The man has been in the Republic for about 18 months with his partner, while the woman has been there for about four months. Both work in Limassol in specialist roles. The Court of Appeal said no strong ties to Cyprus had been identified beyond their residence and employment that could, in the circumstances, deter them from absconding. The defence also pointed to the fact that both went voluntarily to Kofinou Police Station on August 3. The man went there after receiving a message informing him that police were looking for him and showed officers the message. The woman went to the station to visit him and was arrested. The Court of Appeal ruled that this was not enough, in the circumstances, to eliminate the risk of absconding. It also noted that the man holds a two-year work permit that can be renewed, while the woman’s application for a work permit remains pending. The court reiterated that personal liberty is the starting point when detention is considered and that custody is an exception. It nevertheless found that the lower court had properly considered the relevant criteria established in case law, including the seriousness of the alleged offences, the prospect of conviction, the potential sentence and the defendants’ personal circumstances. The Court of Appeal found no grounds to intervene, rejected all grounds of appeal and upheld the detention order in full. Read more: Brazilian couple arrested in Kornos forest arson attempt case Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus to use Digital Citizen for social media age checks Erhurman: conditions for new 5+1 meeting “not yet met”, heads to New York September 23 Cyprus ranks second globally on healthcare access satisfaction, survey finds Key prosecution witness completes lengthy testimony in Phedonos rape trial Civil Registry and Children’s Commissioner drove ID parent-name removal, minister says Christodoulides to address UN General Assembly, meet Guterres during New York visit ‘Europe and Canada are stronger together’: Carney pushes for deeper EU alliance Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.