Five people will stand trial on 16 March over a shootout and violent clash in Larnaca centre on the afternoon of 17 January, prosecutors said.
A 48-year-old Cypriot man, described as the alleged leader of a criminal gang, and four foreign nationals from Jordan and Palestine aged 26, 26, 32 and 20 will appear before Larnaca’s Permanent Criminal Court facing conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal possession and transport of a firearm, illegal possession of explosives, extortion, demanding property with threats, participation in a criminal organisation and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Three other foreign nationals aged 27, 26 and 35 are wanted in connection with the case and are believed to have fled abroad, according to police.
The 48-year-old and one of the 26-year-olds face additional charges over the beating of a 39-year-old Bulgarian man in Pyla at 4am on 17 January, hours before the Larnaca incident.
The pair are charged with causing grievous bodily harm, causing actual bodily harm, threats and carrying a knife. A 27-year-old is wanted in connection with that assault.
The defendants are accused of being members of a criminal group that approached a businessman who owns a nightclub on Grigori Afxentiou Avenue and demanded €7,000 for protection, followed by €1,000 monthly, according to court documents.
The complainant told police that a man, who is wanted, initially phoned him demanding money and made threats over the phone. On Saturday 17 January, the man came to the location and threatened the complainant with a knife, according to the complaint.
Shortly after 3pm, vehicles arrived at high speed and 20 people got out, prosecutors said. The group demanded money from the complainant and when he refused, they started beating him.
The complainant, together with a relative and two friends, fought back with an axe and crowbars. Two shots were then fired outside a fast-food restaurant with a pistol held by a member of the 48-year-old’s group, according to investigators.
Larnaca CID also arrested two businessmen aged 47 and 43 who had meetings with the complainant and allegedly asked him to change his testimony. The two were referred to trial yesterday for interference in judicial proceedings and were released on conditions.
Prosecutors requested that the five defendants remain in custody. Defence lawyers have objected to their detention and the case continues before the District Court.
