One of two suspects wanted over an alleged 800,000-euro contract to kill a businessman is a former police officer who allegedly instructed the man’s former employee to plant a bomb on his car, Phileleftheros understands.
Both wanted suspects are in Dubai. According to intelligence held by the security authorities, the former officer is closely linked to members of a criminal network there who have reportedly drawn the attention of authorities in both Greece and Cyprus over serious organised crime cases.
Police believe the former officer introduced himself to the businessman’s 36-year-old former employee as ‘A’, Phileleftheros understands.
According to the same information, the first wanted suspect put the 36-year-old in touch with the former officer by video call from Dubai. During that call, the former officer allegedly gave him the job of planting an explosive device on the businessman’s car.
In his statement, the 36-year-old said the former officer promised him financial support for his daughter and help with his residence papers in Cyprus if he carried out the killing.
The 36-year-old is a Bulgarian national who was deported from Cyprus in 2014. He also said that the first wanted suspect, an alleged associate of ‘A’, tried to reassure him by telling him that “the police are theirs”. According to his statement, the same man said he would arrange his residence papers.
Further arrests possible
Investigators from the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (DAOE) are stepping up efforts to gather new evidence, and significant developments are expected within hours. Phileleftheros understands that they have already taken further statements from people in the suspects’ close professional, social and family circles.
New arrests have not been ruled out. Police are still looking for another person who allegedly played a key role in the case by delivering the second detonator to a 70-year-old suspect.
Investigators are also attaching particular weight to a statement expected within hours. It will come from the person through whom the businessman contacted the 48-year-old first suspect after learning that his murder was being planned.
The money trail
Investigators are also examining the financial transactions described in the statements, as police try to establish where significant sums of money came from and where they went.
Of particular interest are cryptocurrency transfers totalling about 13,767 euros, which the 36-year-old said he received from the first wanted suspect. The alleged advance of 400,000 euros for carrying out the killing is also under scrutiny.
To examine the financial data, investigators need court orders to disclose bank account details. Depending on where the records are held, they may also need to start international judicial cooperation procedures.
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