THE TWO Greek nationals suspected of murdering five men in Ayia Napa last month were yesterday led to the Koridallos prison in Piraeus, after the Cypriot authorities’ request to have them extradited to the island was examined by a Greek court.
The two men, aged 41 and 29, were arrested on Saturday afternoon in Athens by the Greek anti-terror squad, after local authorities had European arrest warrants and an Interpol Red Notice issued.
The Greek Pontian suspects were led to the Athens Appellate Court at 9 am yesterday, where their extraditions to Cyprus were examined.
However, as the two suspects rejected being extradited, the case could now drag on for months.
Local authorities had the European and international arrest warrants issued after gathering some damning evidence from the scene of the gangland-like style murder, which saw five men – three Cypriots and two Romanians – being sprayed with bullets on a side street off Ayia Napa’s busy nightclub scene on June 23.
Police have CCTV footage of the crime, DNA gathered from the murderer’s hat, which was dropped at the scene, and other important information, such as their travel and accommodation details.
For example, it was found that the two suspects arrived in Cyprus four days before the shootings took place and that they also travelled to the island on two separate occasions at the start of June. It has also emerged that they acquired the murder weapon in Cyprus, while they were connected to mobile phones under different names.
The Greek anti-terror squad found mobile phones and laptops in their Athens home, which could shed more light over the killings.
“They made mistakes and gave themselves away,” one Greek policeman was quoted as saying in the Greek press yesterday.
It also emerged yesterday that the Greek authorities are now in search of a third person, who they believe to be the mastermind behind the crime. However, this was rejected by Justice Minister Loucas Louca yesterday.
“We never said that,” said Louca. “They (Greek authorities) are seeking a third person for their own reasons. We issued two European arrest warrants and action was launched to get the two suspects extradited to Cyprus.”
Other interesting details have been leaked to the Greek press, such as the fact that one of the two suspects shot at the victims at least 14 times, with 13 bullets finding their target. He was also said to have fired extra shots at the victims, to be sure he got the job done.
The Greek authorities also suspect the aim was to target the employer of four of the five victims who worked as security guards for Famagusta businessman Phanos Kalopsidiotis. The mastermind of the crime apparently thought Kalopsidiotis was in the black BMW at the time of the shoot-out.
The Greek Pontians’ criminal records have also been highlighted in Greece, as they have been involved in the anarchist and anti-establishment protests that blighted Greece last year.
The 41-year-old was also implicated in the importation of some 83 kilos of cocaine from Italy to the Greek island Zakynthos, it was reported yesterday.
Meanwhile, Minister Louca yesterday said he was optimistic the crime would be fully resolved, adding that residents in the Famagusta area should rest assured that they would be well protected over the summer.
“I said from the start that we are on a very good course; I continue to believe this and that we will have the result we need so everyone involved in this horrific act ends up in court,” said Louca. In regards to Ayia Napa residents’ concerns over their safety, he added, “Despite the increased duties we have, people should be assured that they will be safe.”
Meanwhile, Kalopsidiotis and three other men who had been remanded in connection with a massive brawl that took place outside an Ayia Napa nightclub a few days after the killings, were released from custody yesterday on the attorney-general’s orders. AG Petros Clerides said there wasn’t enough evidence to connect the brawl to the murders.
Cyprus Mail