Case of suspect property usurper postponed

Criminal court proceedings in the case of the 49-year-old German broker accused of usurping Greek Cypriot property in the north have been postponed for a second time.

The case hearing which had been set for Wednesday after the completion of a previous two week postponement, was adjourned until Thursday at 9am, due to the absence of a German-speaking translator for the accused.

Chief judge Nikolas Georgiadis ordered that the minutes of Wednesday’s proceedings be translated and given to the accused and her defence lawyers by this time.

The accused will remain in custody at the request of the prosecuting authority, to which the defence did not object. She is expected to answer tomorrow on whether or not she accepts the charges against her.

The 49-year-old faces six counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, fraudulent transactions in real property belonging to another, illegal possession, possession and use of land registered to another, and money laundering.

Her defence lawyer Sotiris Argyrou had said he intends to raise objections to the jurisdiction and bias of the court.

He also indicated that the woman intends to plead not guilty to the charges against her.

The German woman was arrested on July 7. She is alleged to be the founder and director of a German company, which advertises and promotes for sale homes located in the Olive Trees village and Aelita Garden Resort complexes in occupied Ayios Amvrosios, Kyrenia.

The complexes are being built by the Kayim Group on land owned by Greek Cypriots.

The value of Olive Trees village is estimated at almost €3 million.