Israeli who developed property in north to face trial

The trial of Israeli property developer Simon Mistriel Aykut, who is accused of having developed and sold €43 million worth of property on Greek Cypriot land in the north, will begin on September 27.

Aykut appeared in front of the Nicosia criminal court on Monday, where he faces a total of 124 charges. He is being represented by two Greek Cypriot lawyers and one Turkish Cypriot lawyer, while an Israeli lawyer is also observing the proceedings.

Monday’s appearance was initially delayed for two hours while a translator was sought, with the case set to resume later on the day to determine whether or not he will remain in custody until the trial begins.

The defence is expected to object to Aykut’s continued detention, as they had done at his previous hearing in June.

Then, they had said the chances of him fleeing were remote and made reference to “health problems” suffered by their client, while also suggesting his safety may be put at risk in custody due to his nationality.

However, the prosecution had said Aykut’s ties to the Republic of Cyprus are “non-existent” and argued that there was a “visible risk of him fleeing”.

Aykut was arrested in June while attempting to cross from the north to the Republic.

He is the founder of the Afik Group, which has carried out various construction projects in Trikomo, many of which are believed to be on Greek Cypriot land.

The Afik Group made headlines a year ago when newspaper Politis reported that a law firm co-founded by then Cyprus Bar Association chairman Christos Clerides was representing Afik Group chief executive officer Afik Yaacov.

A government source told the Cyprus Mail at the time that they were “carefully following” the case.

Yaacov had reportedly registered a company named Danilen Ltd in Nicosia at the same address as Clerides’ law firm, with Politis saying the alleged link between the law firm and Yaacov emerged as part of the bar association’s obligation to oversee all lawyers and their compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

The law firm said at the time that reports of assisting people and facilitating where it comes to matters related to the north, or any connection of the firm with illegal activities “are false and a result of sinister and ulterior motives”.