Police have uncovered fresh evidence in the case of a 49-year-old Swedish fugitive’s escape from a private clinic in Larnaca, implicating a 54-year-old lawyer and a 44-year-old police officer.
The three suspects appeared before the Larnaca District Court on Wednesday for a renewal of their detention order, where senior police investigator Andreas Andreou presented new findings that corroborate some of the Swede’s earlier claims.
According to court testimony, the lawyer, who was introduced to the fugitive by the police officer, had proposed marriage to the Swedish national to establish ties with the Republic. Evidence found at the lawyer’s residence included notes about Catholic wedding procedures and photographs showing both wearing rings.
The police officer’s involvement appears more extensive than initially thought. The officer, who met the Swedish national in detention, allegedly suggested his lawyer friend in exchange for the detainee purchasing his house due to financial difficulties following a divorce. The officer was found to have purchased mobile phone cards and trainers worth €98 using his bank card for the escape, contradicting the lawyer’s claimed cost of €300.
Telecommunications data from the fugitive’s mobile phone, recovered after his arrest on 23 December in a building under construction in Larnaca, revealed communications between the suspects via WhatsApp and Telegram. Messages showed discussions about the Swede’s shoe size between the lawyer and officer, and requests from the detainee to recover data from seized devices.
Financial investigations revealed the Swedish national had transferred €15,000 to the lawyer and a luxury limited-edition vehicle, which police seized. The car, purchased from a Limassol dealership in August 2024 for €75,000, was reportedly presented to the lawyer as being worth over €100,000.
The court ordered the suspects’ detention for six days.
Swedish journalists attended the proceedings, as the case attracts interest in Sweden.
Two additional police members have been suspended: a Special Police Officer who was guarding the Swedish national during the escape, and a Larnaca police duty officer who allegedly gave irregular instructions regarding the guard duty.
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