A court has ordered the 62-year-old leader of a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizens” group into psychiatric care, as police widened their investigation into an alleged scheme that targeted financially distressed borrowers.
The group, which claimed to represent about 80 people who rejected Cyprus’s authority and declared allegiance to the U.S. flag, is accused of charging vulnerable individuals fees ranging from 50 to 750 euros for fraudulent assistance with troubled loans.
Police have arrested five people, including the group’s leader and his 43-year-old partner, whose detention was extended by eight days.
A 72-year-old man was also detained for allegedly aiding the group, while two more suspects, aged 45 and 42, were arrested on Thursday morning.
Authorities are searching for Costas Patsalides, 45, identified as a co-leader of the organisation, who remains at large.
According to police testimony, the suspects presented themselves as “federal officers” appointed by the “Postmaster General of the Planet” and convinced individuals with problematic loans to send peculiar documents to financial institutions, claiming non-recognition of their debts.
Multiple witnesses have come forward describing how they were approached by the group when facing financial difficulties.
One woman, who lost her house to fire, paid 50 euros after being promised assistance. Another individual with a non-performing loan paid 200 euros in instalments to the group’s leaders.
The suspects face charges including conspiracy to commit felony, dissemination of false information, forgery, threats, and participation in a criminal organisation.
Police have expanded their investigation to include charges of obtaining goods under false pretences and money laundering.
Court records show the 62-year-old leader has four outstanding fine warrants totalling 1,185 euros dating from 2008 and has been unemployed since 2013.
His alleged co-leader, Patsalides, has three unpaid fines worth 1,204 euros from 2016 and owns 10 vehicles that are either immobilised or unlicensed.
The investigation continues.
