A RUSSIAN man, 57, and a 43-year-old Greek Pontian, were referred on Friday to direct trial at the Larnaca Criminal Court on May 10, for illegal possession of weapons and artillery, explosives and flammable substances.
The two men were arrested in connection with the murder in Pyla earlier in the month of 40-year-old Giorgos Georgiou, also known as Chiquito, after the victim’s guard reported the 43-year-old and his 45-year-old brother, a 30-year-old Greek Pontian, and a 52-year-old Russian. Georgiou was shot sniper-style. The bodyguard claimed the suspects approached him several times to persuade him to flee the country, not to testify in two ongoing court cases, one at Larnaca court and the other in Nicosia.
The bodyguard was shown a bag containing €500 notes and was told the money was his if he agreed not to testify. He was threatened he would be next to be killed if he did not abide with their plan.
Following the report, police arrested the 30-year-old Greek Pontian and the 52-year-old Russian, while during a search in the house of the 43-year-old, they located the 57-year-old. The two brothers handed themselves in on Tuesday night and were remanded for three days on Wednesday.
Inside the house police found a pistol, a fake pistol, a short-barreled shotgun, 13 full shotgun cartridges, ten modified shotgun cartridges from which the pellets had been removed and replaced by beads, makeshift assault weapons with attached blades, and a large number of documents containing instructions for firing guns.
The 57-year-old Russian admitted that he was a member of the Russian secret services and that he is a trainer of snipers. He also said that he was wanted by the Russian authorities since the summer of 2014 for a fraud case.
Last week, police confiscated four mobile phones, four laptops, an airgun and bullets from the 57-year-old’s house. They also found a briefcase containing a lighter and four bottles of flammable liquid. The bottles had solid fuel attached to them, tied with duct tape.
The 57-year-old Russian is to remain in custody until the commencement of the trail, while the 43-year-old was released on a €50,000 bail but handed in his passport, and has to appear at a police station three times a week.
The 43-year-old, along with his brother, and the remaining two suspects also face trial in Larnaca for conspiracy to commit a crime, conspiracy to obstruct justice and influence a witnesses, interference with the work of a judge and interference in judicial proceedings. The offenses were allegedly committed during two months in Larnaca. The four suspects were released on €20,000 bail.
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