A Limassol court on Monday remanded a 49-year-old man for eight days after a family living abroad complained that a house they had inherited in the city had been let to others without their knowledge or consent.
The family found out through an estate agent who was handling the sale of the property. Investigators are looking for the original of a lease that is allegedly forged, and searches are planned at two locations.
The man is being investigated for:
- conspiracy to commit a felony and a misdemeanour
- forgery
- circulating a forged document
- illegal entry
- fraudulent dealings in immovable property belonging to another person
He was arrested on Sunday evening at the offices of the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on a court warrant. When told why he was being arrested and cautioned, he replied: “I didn’t do any of this.” He denied involvement when questioned orally.
The complaint was made by a woman who lives permanently in Kuwait. She told police that after her father’s death in April 2020, she, her mother, her four sisters and her brother inherited the house. None of the heirs, she said, knew of any lease agreement.
On May 18, an estate agent who had taken on the sale of the house told her that a lease had been signed in April 2026 with a woman from Limassol. The complainant said none of the heirs had made any written or oral agreement with the tenant.
A week earlier, on May 11, officers from Polemidia police station had visited the house after neighbours reported an alleged illegal entry. A couple outside the house showed them a photograph of a lease, which set out an agreement between the couple and three co-owners of the property. An officer photographed the document.
On August 25, a woman who was living in the house gave a statement to Limassol CID. She claimed that in early 2026 she had asked another person to contact the owners to arrange to rent the property. She said the 49-year-old later contacted her, telling her he had spoken to one of the heirs living in Kuwait and had secured their consent.
The woman said the 49-year-old gave her a lease in April 2026, which she signed as a witness. She has lived in the house since then with her partner. According to her statement, they paid no rent because they were carrying out renovation work under an oral agreement with the suspect.
Investigators traced a mobile phone number that, after a check of police systems, matched the 49-year-old’s details. A court arrest warrant was then issued.
Inquiries are continuing, and another person is due to give a written statement to investigators.
