A four-minute Turkish television interview featuring a defendant accused of large-scale appropriation of Greek Cypriot properties was presented Tuesday at Nicosia Permanent Criminal Court.
Shimon Mistriel Aykout, 73, appeared on pro-government Turkish channel NTV, addressing allegations he sold residential units from developments in occupied Trikomo to Israelis.
According to the interview transcript, Turkish-origin individuals accused Ayikout of Zionist motivations and selling properties to Jews. The businessman responded by stating his family settled in Turkey six centuries ago, that he grew up in Izmir and was raised with principles of “Turkishness” and “Ataturkism”.
Ayikout presented himself as owner of a company in the occupied north and developer behind the Trikomo project featuring 3,500 residential units. He claimed only 105 units were sold to Israelis, apparently seeking to counter Zionist allegations.
“We and I personally have no connection with Zionism or anything else and I declare this categorically,” Aykout told the Turkish journalist.
Defence counsel had previously argued in preliminary matters that no evidence existed proving Aykout was the principal behind the company allegedly responsible for illegal developments, according to the indictment.
Republic prosecutor Andreas Aristeidis called a witness who provided Turkish translation services. The prosecution aims to support the Law Office’s case that Aykout controls the illegal developments.
Defence lawyer Maria Neofytou cross-examined the witness in the criminal proceedings against Aykout.
Greek Cypriot land development businessman Savvas Kakos is scheduled to testify for the prosecution Wednesday.
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