Cyprus Mail: Press Review in English, 99-10-12

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From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>

Tuesday, October 12, 1999

Murder, prostitution and drugs

CRIME was the main theme of all yesterday's front pages with the murder of a London Cypriot in a car explosion in Larnaca the lead story. Prominence was also given to the discovery of a big prostitution ring in Paphos and to a drug haul in Larnaca.

Alithia reported that the 46-year-old man, Eraclis Kouzoupis, alias Ricky, who died shortly after the bomb explosion under his car, was behind illegal financial dealings and could also have been involved in drug trafficking. Police had questioned two men, a Cypriot and a Lebanese, with whom Kouzoupis had dealings. Investigations had been extended to Ayia Napa.

The paper said that Kouzoupis was a London resident, but did a lot of travelling all over Europe. He had arrived in Cyprus two months ago saying he was a "sales representative", but in fact allegedly fleeing prosecution on theft charges in a British court.

Phileleftheros said the crime was reminiscent of the methods used by the mafia in other countries. Police were puzzled about the motive of the murderers as the victim was not known for any criminal activity in Cyprus. Links with a Limassol underworld group were being investigated. The paper said that Kouzoupis had financial differences with people in Britain.

Simerini described the victim as "a man with a dark past". Because of his criminal past, the police have contacted Interpol for more information. He had reportedly taken part in scam against the Duke of Devonshire and spent three years in an English prison. There was also information linking him to international credit card scams.

After going through the holiday apartment he was staying at on the Larnaca-Dhekelia road, police found that Kouzoupis dressed himself in very expensive designer clothes and also had valuable wrist watches. He possessed two passports.

Haravghi focused on the authorities' failure to deal with crime. To prove its point, it cited a statement by the Minister of Justice Nicos Koshis who said "we go from one crime ring to another crime ring". This illustrated the quandary the police were in with regard to crime. The paper also ridiculed the police chief's claim that everything was under control. How many more murders and criminal acts would there be before the police eradicated crime, it asked.

Alithia reported that police had uncovered a large Paphos prostitution ring which had turned four flats in an apartment block into a brothel, where cabaret artistes would go with customers. The flats, which had been under surveillance for a month, were raided by police in the early hours of Sunday. Eleven couples were caught in the act, the paper said.

Five people appeared in court in connection with the case. The owner of the flats, two cabaret waiters and a cabaret owner were remanded in custody in connection with the case.

Haravghi reported that "there seems to be a well- organised drug trafficking network in the Famagusta district" after the arrest of Bulgarian pub-owner Tatiana Stefanova. The 27-year-old mother of two, had allegedly thrown a black bag, containing four kilograms of marijuana, out of her window when the police visited her at 4.30am. Another Bulgarian woman living in the flat was also arrested.

Phileleftheros reported that police would also look at the bank accounts of people allegedly involved in the issuing of forged visas for foreign artistes in an attempt to nail them. So far testimony has been received implicating policemen in the visa scam.

© Copyright Cyprus Mail 1999

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