Court rejects bail bid for Larnaca businessman in fraud case

Local CrimeLarnacaorganised crimepoliceTop News Court rejects bail bid for Larnaca businessman in fraud case Court Rejects Bail Bid For Larnaca Businessman In Fraud Case Relevant News Court rejects bail bid for Larnaca businessman in fraud case 6 August 2026 In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Russia tries to sow panic with ‘safari’ strikes on civilians 6 August 2026 Israel strikes south Lebanon after soldiers killed, talks continue in Rome 6 August 2026 Natasa Christoforou 6 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca today rejected a request for the conditional release from a 44-year-old businessman from Larnaca, who is one of four people accused of defrauding an elderly man of tens of thousands of euros. It was the third time a court has rejected the businessman’s request for release since his arrest last June alongside three co-accused: a 42-year-old businessman from Nicosia, a 49-year-old man already facing trial, and a 45-year-old woman. The Larnaca District Court had previously rejected a similar request during his referral for trial, and the Court of Appeal recently upheld that decision, which had ordered his detention until his case is heard by the Criminal Court. The 44-year-old also faces a separate charge of allegedly attempting to influence a witness in connection with the shooting incident in the Larnaca town centre on January 17. Shortly after his arrest in the fraud case, his 49-year-old brother and a 51-year-old man were arrested following a fresh complaint from the 77-year-old complainant that they had tried to pressure him into changing his testimony. Both were referred for trial before Famagusta Court and were later released. In the fraud case, all four defendants are due to enter pleas on September 18. They face charges including money laundering, participation in a criminal organisation, conspiracy to commit a felony, extortion, threatening violence and unlawful deprivation of liberty. The 49-year-old, who remains in custody, faces additional charges over the alleged torture of people at an illegal casino in Pyla and over the January 17 shooting in Larnaca. The 42-year-old businessman from Nicosia and the 45-year-old woman were released on conditional bail by Larnaca District Court. The four were arrested after the 77-year-old complainant alleged that between 2021 and 2024 he was defrauded of large sums of money. According to his complaint, the case began when he and his son-in-law sold two properties in Pyla worth 3 million euros to a company directed by the 42-year-old Nicosia businessman. The 44-year-old Larnaca businessman was allegedly drawn into the case shortly afterwards. The pensioner said the 44-year-old, together with the 49-year-old now facing trial, persuaded him to become their partner in a betting shop, defrauding him of a total of 49,000 euros through the arrangement. The man facing trial is alleged to have separately worked with the 45-year-old woman to defraud the pensioner of more than 150,000 euros. The Nicosia businessman is alleged to have pressured the complainant, with the others’ help, into changing the terms of the property sale agreement. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Russia tries to sow panic with ‘safari’ strikes on civilians Israel strikes south Lebanon after soldiers killed, talks continue in Rome An Englishman in Limassol: Sting rolls back the years at Tsirio Stadium On this day: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing at least 117,000 in 1945 Government completes 2027 state budget draft Union alleges drugs, violence amid understaffing crisis at Central Prison Man arrested in Larnaca airport over €827,400 car import fraud scheme Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.