A 26-year-old man has been remanded in custody for seven days over the arson of a rental car in Agios Tychonas, Limassol. Investigators traced a car they believe was used in the attack partly through the original colour of its wheels, which had been painted black.
Limassol District Court ordered his detention to help the investigation into conspiracy to commit a felony and arson over the fire on 24 October. The man denies any involvement.
Police are also looking for a second person who is believed to have been with the suspect at the time.
The car was parked outside a car rental shop in Agios Tychonas owned by a 60-year-old businessman. Investigators at the scene found a trail of flammable material about nine metres long, running from the front of the shop to the front of the car. The car, valued at 18,000 euros, was destroyed, and the fire caused about 400 euros of damage to a window, walls, lights and plastic chairs outside the shop.
CCTV footage
Limassol CID investigators examined dozens of CCTV recordings, which led them to a white car without number plates seen parking near the scene shortly before the fire. According to evidence presented in court, a passenger got out, went to the spot and lit the trail. He then ran back to the car, which drove off heading east.
Further analysis of the footage showed the car had earlier stopped in an open field nearby, where, according to police, its number plates were removed. Footage from before the stop shows the car with plates, and it had none when it left for the scene. Some numbers on the plates are faintly visible in other recordings.
Investigators then turned their attention to a car being held as evidence at Limassol police headquarters in a separate theft case. The 26-year-old had been driving it when it was found in that case. An external inspection found that its features matched those in the footage: a white car with tinted windows, black wing mirrors, an added black plastic spoiler on the rear of the roof and distinctive multi-spoke wheels.
The wheels stood out. Although they appeared black, they had been painted with non-factory paint that could be removed even with light rubbing, revealing their original metallic silver colour, exactly as the wheels of the car in the videos appeared. Police believe the combination of the car’s distinctive features and its wheels links it to the arson.
According to what was said in court, the 26-year-old had been using the car since September. Questioned at Limassol CID, he said the car was in his possession and that he had been driving it for the past few months.
Next steps
The investigation is at an early stage. Four statements have been taken so far, and 21 more are pending, from the suspect’s friends, family and work contacts and from people connected with the scene.
Investigators also plan to take a statement under caution from the 26-year-old, gather and assess further CCTV footage, and obtain telecoms and bank data to try to establish the motive. Two more searches of specific locations are planned, and the suspect’s car is to undergo a technical inspection.
