Shimon Mistriel Aykut, 75, is still serving his prison sentence in Israel, the Cyprus Justice Ministry has confirmed. Aykut was convicted in 2025 and sentenced to five years in prison for the largest case of Greek Cypriot property usurpation in the occupied areas.
The Justice Ministry received this update recently from its Israeli counterpart, after requesting information on Aykut’s status. The request followed claims and information circulating in Cyprus suggesting the convicted man would be released or would not serve his sentence following his transfer to his country of origin.
Israeli authorities informed the Justice Ministry that Aykut continues to serve, in Israel, the prison sentence imposed on him by the Cypriot court. His transfer took place under an international prisoner transfer agreement, on condition that Israel accepted the sentence imposed by Cypriot justice.
When Aykut was transferred from Cypriot prisons to prisons in Israel on April 17, 2026, claims had been made that he would be released before completing his sentence due to his health and his status. Execution of a sentence follows the rules of the country to which a prisoner is transferred, not the country where the sentence was imposed.
Before his transfer to Israel, the relevant authorities had given assurances that the transfer would not result in a reduction of his sentence. Aykut was convicted on October 24, 2025 by the Nicosia Criminal Court and sentenced to five years in prison, after admitting to 40 charges relating to fraudulent transactions involving property belonging to others.
The offences involved 40 plots of land with a total area of nearly 400,000 square metres, valued at approximately €40 million. The illegal developments, built by Aykut’s companies, involved five building complexes constructed in Agios Amvrosios (Caesar Cliff), Trikomo (Caesar Resort), Gastria (Caesar Beach and Caesar Blue) and Akanthou (Caesar Breeze and Caesar Bay), in the districts of Kyrenia and Famagusta.
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